The mycotoxins in edible oils: An overview of prevalence, concentration, toxicity, detection and decontamination techniques

Background: Edible vegetable oils usually make up at least 30% of the human daily diet, provide calories and essential fatty acids for the body, and make food palatability. However, edible oils are susceptible to mycotoxins as a severe threat to human health. Oilseeds are prone to contamination with various mycotoxins if stored for a long time in inappropriate storage conditions such as high temperature and humidity, which can eventually be transmitted to the extracted oil. Scope and approach: This review intends to summarize the studies published to date regarding the prevalence, toxicity, and methods used to detect and decontaminate the main mycotoxins in edible vegetable oils. Key findings and conclusions: Among the 14 types of oils discussed in the current review, the main mycotoxins in oils were aflatoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, fumonisins, and Alternaria toxins with a predominance of aflatoxins. Mycotoxins' prevalence varied in different edible oils depending on the type of oil, geographical area, analysis method, and oilseeds' storage conditions. A broad range of methods was used to detect mycotoxins in oils, while the most applied was the HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection, followed by HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, aptamer, and surface plasmon resonance. The lowest detection limit with excellent sensitivity and selectivity was associated with LC-MS/MS, although it depends on the sample preparation method. Moreover, mycotoxins decontamination techniques for edible oils were alkaline electrolyzed water, irradiation, magnetic adsorbents, and enzymatic methods, while the most effective method was alkaline electrolyzed water.

Automated summary

Edible oils are essential in human diet but are prone to contamination by mycotoxins, posing a serious threat to human health. Aflatoxins are the predominant mycotoxins in oils, varying in prevalence depending on oil type, geographical area, analysis method, and storage conditions. Various detection methods are used, with HPLC coupled with fluorescence detection being the most common, while alkaline electrolyzed water is the most effective decontamination technique for oil.