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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313721
Title: DON occurrence in cereal grains: A North American perspective

Author
item BIANCHINI, ANDREIA - University Of Nebraska
item HORSLEY, RICHARD - North Dakota State University
item JACK, MAIA - Cpg Global
item KOBIELUSH, BRENT - General Mills, Inc
item RUE, DOJIN - University Of Idaho
item TITTLEMIER, SHERYL - Canadian Grain Commission
item WILSON, WILLIAM - North Dakota State University
item Abbas, Hamed
item ABEL, SUSAN - Food & Consumer Products Of Canada
item HARRISON, GORDON - Canadian National Millers' Association
item MILLER, J - Carleton University - Canada
item SHIER, W - University Of Minnesota
item WEAVER, GLEN - Ardent Mills

Submitted to: Cereal Foods World
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2015
Publication Date: 3/1/2015
Citation: Bianchini, A., Horsley, R., Jack, M., Kobielush, B., Rue, D., Tittlemier, S., Wilson, W.W., Abbas, H.K., Abel, S., Harrison, G., Miller, J.D., Shier, W.T., Weaver, G. 2015. DON occurrence in cereal grains: A North American perspective. Cereal Foods World. 60: 32-56.

Interpretive Summary: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a toxic compound produced by the mold Fusarium which is a toxic material that affects animals and/or humans. DON contamination reduces the marketable value of cereal grains. With advance in technology, detection methods, cleaning, milling, processing, the DON content in cereal grains can be managed. This paper reports that DON was reduced to a level dramatically below the regulation levels. This finding allows the contaminated cereal grains to be marketable because no DON was found in the final product such as flour. These findings will be helpful for farmers who have contaminated grain so it can still be sold for human and animal use.

Technical Abstract: The occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in agricultural commodities has been reported all over the world, with levels varying amongst grain type and years of production. However, a systematic review of the current situation regarding this mycotoxin, its occurrence, and its management in North America was lacking. Attempting to fill that gap, this report intends to (1) review publicly available data and introduce new information regarding the occurrence of DON in wheat, corn and barley in North America, along with potential variations due to growing regions, grain varieties, and year of production; (2) provide an overview of industry practice in reducing DON contamination from field through milling; (3) review how all in the cereal value chain, including farmers, grain buyers, and end users have effectively managed DON for over 20 years; (4) toxicity of DON; and (5) impact of tight DON regulations on grain supply/ prices. This report focuses on wheat, corn, and barley grown in Canada and the US, as these two countries are the major exporters of these cereal grains in North America (Foreign Agricultural Service 2014).