In Canada and the United States maximum tolerated levels of the mycotoxin DON have been determined (FAO survey 1994/1995). In Canada and the USA the maximum tolerated levels of DON in food are respectively 2 mg/kg (in unclean soft wheat) and 1 mg/kg (end product). In Canada the maximum level of DON in feed is determined for cattle and poultry at 5 mg/kg and for swine, young calves and lactating dairy animals at 1 mg/kg. In the USA: grains and grain by-products destined for ruminating beef and feedlot cattle older than 4 months and for poultry (not exceeding 50 % of their diet) 10 mg/kg, for other animals 5 mg/kg (not exceeding 40 % of their diet, but for swine not exceeding 20 % of their diet).
At the European level no regulations have been determined yet for DON and ZEA. However, various countries already set their own regulations.
In Austria maximum tolerated levels of DON or ZEA in human food and animal feed have become valid since July 1, 1999. For humans, maximum tolerated levels of DON in wheat end-products are 0.5 mg/kg and for ZEA 0.06 mg/kg. For pigs kept for meat as well as for breeding maximum tolerated levels of DON are 0.5 mg/kg and for ZEA 0.05 mg/kg feed. For chickens kept for meat the maximum tolerated level of DON is 1.5 mg/kg feed, whereas for chickens kept for egg production and breeding the level is reduced to 1.0 mg/kg feed. For cows kept for meat production the maximum tolerated level of DON is 1.0 mg/kg feed.
In Italy the Ministry of Health recommended the following maximum levels for ZEA, since June 10, 1999: 0.02 mg/kg in baby food and 0.1 mg/kg in cereals and cereal products.
In the Netherlands, wheat and mycotoxins were often in the news during the spring and summer of 1999, because of detection of seed parties of winter wheat grown in 1997 and 1998 containing too high levels of DON. As a result The Ministry of Health contacted the Dutch Board for Arable Crop Production, who determined in July together with the Dutch Association of Flour Producers (NVM) that only products containing less than 1 mg/kg could be accepted to be used by the trait. In November, this level was reduced to 0.5 mg/kg DON in the end products for human consumption. To achieve this level, only wheat parties with a maximum level of DON of 1 mg/kg will become available for the trait. For the 1999 harvest of wheat a level of DON below 0.5 mg/kg can be guaranteed. For more information consult the 1999 RIVM report 388802 19 on DON of October 1999.
Last updated 06/08/2002 by Marian van Harmelen