That first cup of coffee is pure bliss for those people needing their morning caffeine fix, whether it is prepared with milk, sugar or simply black. But how about a splash of mycotoxins? A new study confirms the presence of these toxic metabolites produced by fungi in commercial coffee samples, leading to concerns about potential public health risks.

Share on Pinterest Coffee with a splash of mycotoxins? The new study reveals levels that exceed those legally allowed in Spanish samples of coffee.

The study – led by Dr. Emilia Ferrer of the University of Valencia in Spain – is published in the journal Food Control.

She and her colleagues explain that mycotoxins are compounds produced by filamentous fungi – such as Aspergillus or Fusarium – that cause disease and health issues. These compounds can be carcinogenic and may affect the hormonal and immune systems.

Mycotoxicoses is the toxic effect of mycotoxins on animal and human health. Exposure to these compounds is typically by ingestion, but it can also occur through the skin or by inhalation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), general interest in mycotoxins came about in 1960, when turkey X disease – a form of mycotoxicosis that was related to animal feed – arose in farm animals in England.

From this, it came to light that these toxins are hepatocarcinogens – agents that cause cancer of the liver – and thus began more widespread research into mycotoxins.

The presence of these toxins on grains, nuts and other products that are susceptible to mold is determined by environmental factors, including temperature, humidity and amount of rainfall during harvesting cycles.

Because the occurrence of mycotoxins in foods and feeds is not entirely avoidable, regulations allow small amounts of these toxins to be present in these products.

In this latest study, the researchers carried out their analysis by using a methodology called liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which involves coupling a molecular separation technique with another technique to accurately identify molecules according to their weights.