Detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed by microorganisms

Different physical and chemical methods have been recommended for detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed. Nevertheless, only a few of them (e.g. destruction of aflatoxin by ammonia treatment) have been accepted for practical use. Many specialists are of the opinion that the best approach for decontamination should be degradation by selected microorganisms, giving a possibility of removal of mycotoxins under mild conditions, without using harmful chemicals and without significant losses in nutritive value and the palatibility of detoxified food or feed. The present state of research in this field and the perspectives of such procedures are reviewed.