Global mycotoxin survey of
2025- harvested corn

Introduction

Corn is one of the most important grown cereal crops globally and is essential for human and animal nutrition.

However, its importance in the food and feed sectors is associated with concerns over contamination by mycotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain species of fungi.

These toxins pose a severe threat to food and feed safety due to their potential health impacts related to the teratogenic, nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, mutagenic, and immunosuppressive effects.

Methodology

Goals

The corn samples were delivered to PATENT CO. lab and Betagro between Sep 2025 & Feb 2026.

The aim of the present study was to quantify mycotoxins in corn samples from different regions of Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam using LC-MS/MS based multi-mycotoxin method.

PATENT CO. research lab, Mišicevo, Serbia

European Union (EU) regulated and related mycotoxins: aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), HT-2 toxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin, and zearalenone (ZEN).

Emerging mycotoxins: beauvericin (BEA), enniatin (ENNA, ENNA1, ENNB, ENNB1), fusaric acid (FA), and moniliformin (MON).

Other mycotoxins: 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), deoxynivalenol 3-glucoside (D-3-G), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), neosolaniol (NEO), nivalenol (NIV), zearalanone (ZAN), α - zearalenol (α-ZEL) and β - zearalenol (β-ZEL), diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, fusarenon x, citrinin, patulin, and alternariol.

Countries: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Peru.

Samples analysed using LC-MS/MS (Agilent 6460 series)¹, at PATENT CO., Serbia.

¹Farkas et al., 2025 (46 Mycotoxins Workshop, May 25–28, 2025, Martina Franka, Italy)

Betagro Science Centre, Khlong Luang, Thailand

Mycotoxins: aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FB1 and FB2), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin, and zearalenone (ZEN).

Samples were analysed using LC-MS/MS (Waters, Xevo TQ-X)² at Betagro Science Centre, Khlong Luang, Thailand.

Countries: China, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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In Brazil, samples were tested using ELISA in an external laboratory.

Mycotoxins: aflatoxin (total AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), deoxynivalenol, fumonisins (total FB1, FB2, and FB3), and zearalenone.

²Kongcheep et al., 2026 (47 Mycotoxins Workshop, June 01–03, 2026, Berlin, Germany)

Results

Algeria

• ⇒ 96% of corn samples from Algeria were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin.
• ⇒ BEA, FA, and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Algeria poses a high risk in ruminants and aquaculture, and a moderate risk in poultry.

Argentina

• ⇒ 68% of corn samples from Argentina were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin.
• ⇒ FA and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Argentina poses a high risk in pigs, and a moderate risk in poultry, ruminants, and aquaculture.

Austria

• ⇒ 94% of corn samples from Austria were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin.
• ⇒ BEA, DON, ENNs, and FA were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Austria poses a moderate risk in all species.

Brazil

• ⇒ Fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Brazil poses a moderate risk in all species.

Chile

• ⇒ 93% of corn samples from Chile were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin.
• ⇒ BEA, FA, and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Chile poses a moderate risk in pigs, and a low risk in poultry, ruminants, and aquaculture.

China

• ⇒ 89% of corn samples from China were contaminated with more than 1 mycotoxin.
• ⇒ DON, fumonisins, and ZEN were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
  ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in China poses a high risk in pigs, ruminants, and aquaculture, and a moderate risk in poultry.

Colombia

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Colombia.
• ⇒ BEA, FA, and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Colombia poses a moderate risk in aquaculture, and a low risk in poultry, pigs, and ruminants.

Costa Rica

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Costa Rica.
• ⇒ BEA, DON, ENNs, FA, fumonisins, MON, and ZEN were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Costa Rica poses a high risk in pigs, ruminants, and aquaculture, and a moderate risk in poultry.

Ecuador

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Ecuador.
• ⇒ AFB1, BEA, FA, and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
  ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Ecuador poses a high risk in ruminants, a moderate risk in poultry and pigs, and a low risk in aquaculture.

Mexico

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Mexico.
• ⇒ BEA, DON, FA, fumonisins, and MON were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Mexico poses a high risk in ruminants, and a moderate risk in poultry, pigs, and aquaculture.

Morocco

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Morocco.
  ⇒ BEA, FA, and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
  ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Morocco poses a moderate risk in aquaculture, and a low risk in poultry and ruminants.

Peru

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Peru.
• ⇒ AFB1, DON, BEA, FA, fumonisins, and ZEN were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Peru poses a high risk in all species.

Philippines

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Philippines.
• ⇒ Average aflatoxin concentrations were critical.
• ⇒ Aflatoxins and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Philippines poses a critical risk in all species.

Serbia

• ⇒ Average aflatoxin concentrations in corn samples from Serbia were critical.
• ⇒ Aflatoxins and fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
  ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Serbia poses a high risk in all animal species.

South Africa

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from South Africa.
• ⇒ BEA, DON, FA, and ZEN were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in South Africa poses a high risk in pigs and aquaculture, and a moderate risk in poultry and ruminants.

South Korea

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from South Korea.
• ⇒ BEA, DON, FA, MON, and ZEN were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in South Korea poses a low risk in all animal species.

Thailand

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Thailand.
• ⇒ Average aflatoxin and fumonisin concentrations were high.
• ⇒ Aflatoxins and Fusarium mycotoxins (DON, fumonisins, and ZEN) were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Thailand poses a critical risk in ruminants, and a high risk in poultry, pigs, and aquaculture.

Vietnam

• ⇒ Co-occurrence with multiple mycotoxins affected all corn samples from Vietnam.
• ⇒ Fumonisins were the dominant mycotoxins detected.
• ⇒ Present average mycotoxin exposure in Algeria poses a high risk in ruminants, and a moderate risk in poultry, pigs, and aquaculture.

World map of mycotoxins

Summary of the global mycotoxin survey of 2025-harvested corn

This study provides valuable insights into the co-occurrence and co-contamination, of aflatoxins, emerging mycotoxins and Fusarium-produced mycotoxins in the majority of 2025-harvested corn samples from 18 countries.

Aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, pose the most significant threat, frequently exceeding regulatory limits for both human and animal consumption. Fumonisins also remained a critical concern, similarly as in previous years, with levels potentially heightened by warmer temperatures during the growing season.

Co-occurrence has significant implications for food and feed safety, as combined exposure to multiple mycotoxins can lead to synergistic toxic effects, increasing human and animal health risks.

This report is informational and does not constitute feeding advice; no liability is accepted for any loss or damage arising from its use.