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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291556

Title: Survey of mycotoxins in corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles from seventy-eight ethanol plants in twelve states the U.S. in 2011

Author
item Khatibi, Piyum
item MCMASTER, NICOLE - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University
item MUSSER, ROBERT - Nutri-Quest, Inc
item SCHMALE, DAVID - Virginia Polytechnic Institution & State University

Submitted to: Toxins
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2014
Publication Date: 3/26/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62456
Citation: Khatibi, P.A., Mc Master, N.J., Musser, R., Schmale, D.G. 2014. Survey of mycotoxins in corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles from seventy-eight ethanol plants in twelve states the U.S. in 2011. Toxins. 6(4):1155-1168. doi: 10.3390/toxins6041155

Interpretive Summary: Certain fungi in the genus Fusarium cause disease in corn and release dangerous mycotoxins. When mycotoxin-contaminated corn is used to produce fuel ethanol, the mycotoxins can be concentrated in a byproduct of fuel ethanol production called distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS). DDGS are a nutritious and significant source of animal feed; however, DDGS containing mycotoxins can be a threat to the health of domestic animals. In our study, we determined the concentration of mycotoxins in 141 DDGS samples collected from 46 ethanol plants across 13 states and found samples that contained mycotoxin levels above FDA advisory limits. These observations underscore the need for new and improved detection and mitigation strategies for mycotoxins in DDGS.

Technical Abstract: Fuel ethanol co-products known as distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a significant source of energy, protein, and phosphorous in animal feed. Fuel ethanol production may concentrate mycotoxins present in corn into DDGS. One hundred and forty one corn DDGS lots collected in 2011 from 78 ethanol plants located in 12 states were screened for the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZON). DON ranged from <0.50 to 14.62 µg g-1, 15-ADON ranged from <0.10 to 7.55 µg g-1, and ZON ranged from <0.10 to 2.12 µg g-1. None of the DDGS lots contained 3-ADON or NIV. Plants in OH had the highest levels of DON overall (mean of 9.51 µg g-1), and plants in NY, MI, IN, NE, and WI had mean DON levels >1 and <4 µg g-1. Twenty six percent (36/141) of the DDGS lots contained 1.0 to 5.0 µg g-1 DON, 2% (3/141) contained >5.0 and <10.0 µg g-1 DON, and 3% (4/141) contained >10.0 µg g-1 DON. All DDGS lots contaminated with unacceptable levels of DON evaded detection prior to their commercial distribution and were likely sold as feed products.