Latest news with #mycotoxins
CBC
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Maritime cereal grain farmers get access to new warning system for fungal disease
Scientists on Prince Edward Island have created a new warning system to help Maritime farmers avoid a costly disease called fusarium head blight, which can decrease grain yields while contaminating the crop with toxins. The Fusarium Head Blight Environmental Risk Forecast Tool can be found on the Atlantic Grain Council's website and is available to growers throughout the region. "Fusarium head blight is a really devastating disease that occurs pretty much around the world in cereal-growing regions," said Adam Foster, a cereal and oilseed pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada who's based in Charlottetown. "Not only does it cause yield losses, like loss of harvest and seed, but it will also contaminate the grain with mycotoxins that can make it unsuitable for people and animals to actually eat if it gets to a high enough level." The risk of disease is higher when the weather is warm and wet, Foster said, adding that tropical nights can make it a lot worse. Those are conditions that could become more common in the Atlantic provinces due to climate change, he said. "What the forecast tool will actually do is examine weather over the last week and incorporate those factors into the models to… predict whether disease is likely to occur or not." Management strategies It's hard to predict at the beginning of any given growing season whether fusarium head blight will be a problem that year, Foster said. P.E.I. was hit particularly hard in 2023, resulting in a lot of grain being lost to the disease. "By the time you actually see the disease, it's too late to act. So having a prediction tool actually tell you ahead of time gives you a little bit of early warning of what's to come," he said. "With a proactive tool and other disease management practices… it is actually manageable." Other management practices include selecting selectively bred varieties that are partially resistant to the fungus, having a diverse crop rotation, and using chemical fungicides or biological control agents to suppress the disease, Foster said. A useful tool Steven Hamill, a farmer in Newton, P.E.I., expects the wheat in his fields to start flowering next week. He thinks the new forecasting tool will be an asset. "There's been years where there's thousands of acres that have been destroyed in the field or hauled out of bins, so there's huge economic impact in a bad year," Hamill said. Hamill said he sprays his crops with fungicide every year as a preventative measure, but not all farmers do the same. "Having the tool, I guess, will validate the decision… or help people make that decision if they don't use it every year," he said. The timely application of fungicides, along with implementing measures that help prevent and suppress the disease, is the best approach when it comes to managing flusarium head blight, Hamill said. The new forecasting tool adds another tool to the toolbox, he said. "I think it's great to have the collaboration with scientists and farmers and, you know, get them in the field together and determine what problems there [are] and what solutions they can come up with."
Health Line
03-06-2025
- Business
- Health Line
Does Medicare Cover Mycotoxin Testing?
Although Medicare does not specifically mention mycotoxin testing, Medicare Part B may cover mycotoxin tests if a doctor deems it medically necessary. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that certain types of molds and fungi produce. They occur naturally but can contaminate food and some indoor environments. Common mycotoxins include: Aflatoxins: Different types of aflatoxins grow in soil, rotting vegetation, hay, grains, cereals, corn, sorghum, wheat, rice, soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, chili and black pepper, coriander, turmeric, ginger, pistachio nuts, almonds, walnuts, coconuts, and Brazil nuts. Ochratoxins: These types can contaminate foods, including cereals and cereal products, coffee beans, dry vine fruits, wine, grape juice, spices, and licorice. Patulin: These can be found in rotting fruit, with the main dietary sources found in apples and apple juice made from affected fruit. Fusarium fungi: These are often found in cereal crops, wheat, oats, and maize. Tests for mycotoxins and Medicare coverage A doctor or healthcare professional may order tests to look for signs of myotoxicity, such as a blood serum test, skin prick testing for particular mold allergens, a bronchial challenge test, or urinalysis. Medicare Part B will typically cover these tests as long as they are medically essential. There are no out-of-pocket costs for these clinical diagnostic lab tests. Symptoms of mycotoxicity Mycotoxins can cause mild to more serious health conditions and some of the symptoms you may experience can include: coughing wheezing nasal congestion skin rashes watery eyes itching muscle aches fatigue liver damage Additionally, people with weakened immune systems may experience heightened sensitivity to mycotoxins. Reducing the risk of mycotoxins You can minimize health risks related to mycotoxins by: Inspecting your food items: Inspect whole grains like corn, wheat, rice, dried figs, and nuts, including peanuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, coconuts, and hazelnuts. Throw out foods that look moldy, have discoloration, or are shriveled. Ensuring freshness of food: Buy grains and nuts that are as fresh as possible. Taking care of food storage: Ensure your foods are stored correctly by keeping them dry, not too warm, and free from insects. Try not to keep foods for long periods before you use them and adhere to packing 'use by' dates. Diversifying your diet: Eating a variety of foods can help reduce your exposure to mycotoxins.
