THERE are several diseases that are associated with the consumption of mycotoxin contaminated food and feed. Mycotoxin, a toxic substance produced by fungi, can pass through the foodchain through a variety of plant products like cereals, corn, beans, rice and apples as also into animal products such as milk or meat. It is estimated that around 25 per cent of the world's agricultural produce is contaminated with mycotoxins. The illness caused by the consumption of these products is called secondary mycotoxicosis.

Mycotoxins elaborated by the species of Aspergilus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria are widely found in the foodchain, some of which do not get destroyed even at a temperature of 260