Zearalenone Toxins

The chapter review highlights the effects of ZEA ingestion on humans, as well as its exposure assessments. Available information shows that although there are recommended practices to prevent/reduce ZEA contamination in foods, it is inevitable under the conditions of poor production and storage structures in most developing countries. Limitations in maintaining nutrient value and other sensory characteristics of food, physical and chemical treatments have been successfully applied in reduction. Absorption of ZEA by yeast cell walls and oxidative stress caused by ZEA-reducing enzymes constitute an effective mechanism of detoxification in the biocontrol system. As detoxification of ZEA remains a challenge to global food safety, alternative approaches, including biological agents from biological sources with more treatment stability and persistence, have been explored.