IDOA issues aflatoxin advisory

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) this week advised the state’s grain industry on government restrictions for aflatoxin-contaminated grain and warned about potential penalties.

Kay Shipman

Published: Aug 31, 2012

“The grain-handling industry takes this issue very seriously,” Jeff Adkisson, executive vice president of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI), told FarmWeek. “We are being proactive in our approach of managing this situation to make sure we comply with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) guidance levels.”

IDOA noted it is working with GFAI as well as with state beef, corn, dairy, pork, and poultry organizations “to raise awareness of the potential problem.”

In a letter sent to grain elevators, warehouses, processors, and feed mills, IDOA listed FDA restrictions for maximum allowable aflatoxin levels in parts per billion (ppb) in animal feed.

The most restrictive level of 20 ppb may be used in feed for immature livestock and dairy animals.

“Please be advised that corn containing aflatoxin over 300 ppb may not be fed to any livestock,” the advisory stated.

Any commercial feed with higher than allowable levels would violate Illinois commercial feed law and would be subject to enforcement action by IDOA or referred to FDA for enforcement, IDOA warned.

Recently, IDOA began its annual process of testing random corn samples for three mycotoxins, including aflatoxin. Four samples will be tested from elevators in each county, and the test results will be posted on IDOA’s website and sent to the respective elevators.

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