Occurrence and noxiousness of mycotoxins in European foods

It is possible for humans and animals alike to be contaminated with mycotoxins such as ergot alkaloids, aflatoxins, ochratoxins and fusariotoxins. Aflatoxins are evaluated as strong carcinogens but their real occurrence and importance seems to be low in Europe. Ochra toxin A has become notorious mycotoxin especially in northern parts of Europe. Nephropathies are considered to be induced by ochratoxins. Immunosuppressive trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and the estrogenic zearalenone occur at high degrees in European cereals. Their roles in human diseases need further elucidation.