A new toxicological review published in RSC Advances surveys mycotoxin contaminants and antibiotic residues associated with the global poultry industry, examining the implications for human health when these compounds enter the food chain.
Mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and fumonisins, are produced by fungi that contaminate feed grains and can persist in poultry tissues consumed by humans. The review consolidates the current evidence on toxicity profiles, exposure routes, and the regulatory landscape that aims to limit human dietary exposure.
The paper frames mycotoxin contamination as a chronic, low-dose exposure pathway distinct from acute poisoning, and notes the difficulty of quantifying cumulative exposure across food categories. The authors call for more integrated surveillance across feed, livestock, and human health endpoints.