The science behind the story
Mycotoxins are a group of naturally-occurring chemicals produced by certain moulds. They can grow on a variety of different crops and foodstuffs including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apple juice and coffee, often under warm and humid conditions. Some of these mycotoxins have been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, including cancer and kidney damage.
In order to protect consumer safety, rules and strict legislative limits for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin and fusarium toxins in certain foodstuffs are set out in European legislation.