FUMONISINS IN ITALIAN MAIZE:

ANALYSIS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Italian Mycotoxin Working Group

185.570 ha

25 ha

274.776 ha223 ha

302.983 ha

107.804 ha

112.930 ha

14.762 ha

7.120 ha2.750 ha

1.575 ha

7.465 ha

580 ha

2.280 ha

20.578 ha

27.050 haha

3.158 ha

16.954 ha

28.757 ha

516 ha

Estimated Grain Cornsurface Italy 2005 :

Tot: 1.117.856 ha

Source: Our elaboration on ISTAT data

91% of the Italian yield, are produced in Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto,

Friuli V. G., Emilia Romagna

The maize food chain in Italy

feed82%

others2%

food4%

starch industry

12%

Source: Aires

In Italy products for human uses made from maize generate a business of 592 million €

60%16%

11%

5%8%

Amiderie Molini industriali Molini artigianale Trasporto Manut.ne e Comm.le

ECONOMICS OF FOOD MAIZE IN ITALY

Source: Aires.

FUSARIUM-TOXINS IN EUROPE

Fumonisine B1-B2 Media 1999-2003

DeossinivalenoloMedia 1999-2003

ZearalenoneMedia 1999-2003

Fumonisins are higherin South Europe

DON and ZEA are higher Center-North Europe

da 0 a 75% della media Europea1999 - 2003

da 75 a 125%

da 125 a 250%

più di 250%

dati non sufficienti

M edia di tut te le località 1999 - 2003

Zearalenone 0.06 ppm

Deossinivalenolo 0.82 ppm

Fumonisine B1 e B2 1.59 ppm

Source: Indagine Europea di Syngenta Seeds

FUSARIUM-TOXINS IN EUROPE2001

2003

2000

2002

1999

1999-2003 Fumonisinsdistribution

Source: Indagine Europea di Syngenta Seeds

5 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)Number of years

503Number of samples

Pietri A. et al., (2004), “Occurrence of mycotoxins and ergosterol in maize harvested over 5 years in Northern Italy”, Food Additives and Contaminants 21 (5): 479-487

Literature Reference

Università Cattolica di PiacenzaScientific Reference

HPLCMethods of analysis

Following Dir. CE 76/371Sampling methods

Commercial lots from drying units and milling plains Source of samples

Po plainArea of sampling

931149410498N. of samples

45,213,19,61,917,3>5000 ppb (%)

38,758,863,852,948,01000-5000 ppb (%)

16,128,126,645,234,7<1000 ppb (%)

51732655310313243347Mean

19991998199719961995

Survey N.1

4 (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)Number of years

1468Number of samples

Verderio A. et al., (2005), “La diffusione delle micotossine nelle produzioni italiane di mais”, L’Informatore Agrario 61 (10): 47-51

Literature Reference

Regione Lombardia - Direzione Generale Agricoltura; CRA - Ist. Sper. per la Cerealicoltura, Sezione di Bergamo; Assincer; AIRES; Pioneer Hi-Bred Italia

Scientific Reference

ELISA Test, fluorimetric method, validated with a HPLC ring test Methods of analysis

“Dynamic” methods from grain in movement Sampling methods

a. Commercial lots from 60 drying unitsb. Production from 44 experimental fields: network “on farm” 2003

Source of samples

Po PlainArea of sampling

344131310360323N. of samples

1,544,345,57,52,2>6000 ppb (%)

2,325,28,711,15,64000-6000 ppb (%)

61,319,824,519,718,02000-4000 ppb (%)

12,53,85,56,124,51500-2000 ppb (%)

22,46,915,855,649,8<1500 ppb (%)

2004a2003b2003a2000a1999a

Survey N. 2

a= samples from drying unitsb= samples from fields

2 (2002, 2003)Number of years

221Number of samples

Battilani P. et al. (2005), “Monitoraggio della contaminazione da micotossine nel mais”,L’Informatore Agrario 61 (6): 47-49.

Literature Reference

Università di Piacenza, Milano, Udine e Pisa; CRA - Istituto Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura

Scientific Reference

HPLCMethods of analysis

Sample of 20 ears Sampling methods

Farm field immediately pre-harvestSource of samples

Po Plain, ToscanaArea of sampling

108113N. of samples

35,248,7>5000 ppb (%)

33,331,01000-5000 ppb (%)

31,520,4<1000 ppb (%)

51864797Mean

20032002

Survey N. 3

6 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)Number of years

586Number of samples

Tanzi F., (2005), “Funghi e micotossine su mais - Indagine Europea di Syngenta Seeds”, Atti della “Giornata del mais 2005”, Bergamo, Italia

Literature Reference

Syngenta seeds ItaliaScientific Reference

ELISA TestMethods of analysis

“Dynamic” sampling at harvestingSampling methods

Field production from Syngenta seeds research networkSource of samples

Po PlainArea of sampling

152106687212464N. of samples

28,036,055,930,0>6000 ppb (%)

26,130,021,817,93000-6000 ppb (%)

21,523,012,824,71500-3000 ppb (%)

24,411,09,527,460<1500 ppb (%)

200420032002200120001999

Survey N. 4

a= average of the period 1999-2004

Survey N. 5

5 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)Number of years

538Number of samples

Reyneri A (2003). La presenza di micotossine nel mais coltivato in Piemonte. Regione Piemonte, pp. 32.

Reyneri A. et al. (2004). Impiego di tecniche agronomiche per contenere le micotossine nella granella di mais. L’Informatore Agrario, 6:45-50.

Literature Reference

Università di TorinoScientific Reference

HPLCMethods of analysis

a. From drying units: “Dynamics” methods from grain in movementb. From fields: sample of 200 ears from 5 subplots

Sampling methods

a. Commercial lots from 12 drying unitsb. Production from 8 experimental fieldsc. Production from 40 farm fields

Source of samples

PiemonteArea of sampling

3259159160160N. of samples

0,00,03,12,50>6000 ppb (%)

0,018,632,710,01,34000-6000 ppb (%)

9.427,130,818,813,82000-4000 ppb (%)

21.911,911,35,66,91500-2000 ppb (%)

68.742,422,063,178,1<1500 ppb (%)

20042003200220012000

Effects of cultural practices on mycotoxin contamination

Crop RotationManagement of debriesSeeding timeHarvest timeHybridFertilizationWeed controlInsect controlIrrigation

Effect on concentration 1 < 2 3 > 4

DON - ZEAFUM

Source :researches conducted in Italy

2.954 18.431 average

1.394 3.902 1999

5.448 31.632 1998

2.021 19.759 1997

bt Maizenon bt MaizeAnno

Source: A. Pietri et al. “ Terra e Vita “ n. 6-2005

Mais BT and Fumonisins

Pre-harvest control strategies in three milling industries (A:C)

Source : A. Reyneri

A B CMain maize products flour, grits homini grits gritsGAP - hybrids yes yes yes - seeding time no yes yes - fertilization no yes no - insect control yes yes yes - irrigation yes yes no - moisture at harvest no yes yesGMP yes yes yes

Rate of fumonisins reduction(1) 1.5-2.5 2.0-3.0 2.0-2.5Premium price (€/t)(2) 6 15 5

Researches conducted in Italy of the fate of fumonisins and other mycotoxins:

milling industries (A:E)

A B C DYears 2000-2005 2005 2002 2004-2005Lots (n,) 19 11 2 46Sampling methods Dynamics sampling

during processingDynamics sampling during processing

Following Dir. 98/57 CE

Dynamics sampling during processing

Methods of analysis HPLC - ELISA ELISA HPLC HPLC - ELISAFraction analysed - Unprocessed grain √ √ √ √ - Germ √ √ √ - Flour √ √ √ √ - Grits √ √ √ √ - Feed meal √ √ √

Reference(1) 48 (2) 12 (2)

(1) cfr. Reference in Annex 1 (2) Unpublished

Fumonisins distribution in maize milling products (± standard error)

A B C D

Unprocessed maize 100 100 100 100Germ 90±20 190±4 78±4Flour 43±6 79±10 76±14Grits 42±6 12±2 32±4Re-milled Grits 13±2 9±0Feed meal 338±104 168±35 271±46

Fraction analysed Fumonisins (index value:media unprocessed maize = 100)

Exposure to fumonisin B1 (µg/kg pc/die) for population groups of Italian population

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

AE* E 95* AE* E 95* AE* E 95* AE* E 95*

Expo

sure

(µg/

kg p

c/di

e)

Maize flour

Flakes

Others

TDI reccomanded by Scientific Committee for Food (2 µg/kg pc/die)

Children Adolescents Adults Old people

* AE: Average exposure* E 95: Exposure 95 percentile

Comparison among the different TDI and thresholds for Fusarium-toxins

375 g400maize based foods for directconsumption

1502.0FUMONISINS

300 g50bread150.2ZEA

100 g750pasta

150 g500bread751.0DON

Amount diF.P. to be

eaten to reachthe TDI

Final Products limitscurrently proposed

µg/kg

TDIin µg for aperson of

75 kg

TDIµg/kg BW

Final ConsiderationsMaize is the main Italian crop by volume and almost 10% of the harvest enter the food chain.Fumonisin are present at variable rate depending on the year and on the region considered, but on the average, most of the Italian maize is above 2000 ppb.Italian farmers don’t have today, and it not expect they will have by 2007, the tools to keep their maize below 2000 ppb with a reasonable probability.The milling process does not reduce the unprocessed corn contamination consistently and equally for all the milling fractions and for all the milling diagrams. The milling industries are particularly concerned for the future of grits and flour production, which will hardly achieve the proposed maximum levels, and for the survival of typical artisanal products as polenta, with a greater involvement of the organic agiculture products;

Final ConsiderationsThe DG-SANCO approach is correctly based on the precautionary principle. Nevertheless, both the European SCOOP task 3.2.10 “Collection of occurrence data on Fusarium toxins in food and assessment of dietary intake by the population of EU member States” presented on September 2003 and the Italian study reported in this document shows that the average intake offumonisins is far below the TDI for most exposed consumers and even without a regolamentation.An Industry sector with more than 2000 employees and a turnover of 513 millions € could be unable to face the current proposed fumonisin limits.If the Italian food maize will enter the feed market the Italianmaize producers (over 200.000 producers) could face a decrease on corn price close to 20% meaning a total loss of over 200 million €.We agree that very high contaminated maize lots should be kept out of the food chain but a limit of 2000 ppb will keep out of business many Italian farmers and industries without improving consumers health

Hence

We ask for a better tuning of fumonisinslimits and implementations time to guarantee both consumers and producers health.

Italian Mycotoxin Work Group