Prevention of Ochratoxin A Contamination of Food and Ochratoxin A Detoxification by Microorganisms – A Review

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by several fungal species of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. This myco-toxin is nephrotoxic, immunosupressive, teratogeni, and carcinogenic to animals and has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. Human exposure to ochratoxin A is worldwide. Ochratoxin A occurs in a variety of foods. An ideal method for minimisation of the health risk that this mycotoxin poses is the prevention of food contamination. When the contamination occurs, the hazard associated with the mycotoxin presence in the food must be eliminated. Various microorganisms such as bacteria and microscopic fungi have been tested for their abilities to prevent ochratoxin A contamination or detoxify foods. Biological control by microorganisms is studied widely, therefore the objective of this article is to provide an overview of the recent development in the biological control of ochratoxin A contamination.