JICA group training course on mycotoxin inspection in food

Abstract

Since mycotoxins are the most serious contaminants in food, strict standards have been established internationally. However, the insufficient inspection techniques have caused the trade stagnation of agricultural produce especially from developing countries. Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) inaugurated a group training course on Mycotoxin Inspection in Food in FY1989 at Hyogo International Center (HIC) as a host organizer, with the aim of consolidating pre-export food examination system and enabling participants to learn the methodology and technology for mycotoxin inspection in food. The training course consists of lectures, laboratory practices and observation. Lectures include general view of mycotoxins, aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination, toxigenic Fusarium spp. and their mycotoxins (trichothceces, zearalenone, fumonisins), sampling plans, chemical analysis and immunoassay, prevention and control, and risk assessment. Laboratory practices include clean-up by multifunctional and immunoaffinity columns, analysis by HPLC, ELISA, immunochromatography, and LC-MS, and are carried out mainly at Kobe City Institute of Health and Nagoya City Public Health Research Institute. JICA/HIC has received 129 participants from 28 countries during 1989 - 2007. In addition to this training course, JICA/HIC has organized several related projects including the special course for Brazil - Cost-share Project for Networking in Brazil (1999-2001, 17 Brazilian participants), the followup team for ex-participants in Malaysia and Thailand (1995), and the follow-up seminar on JICA Group Training on Mycotoxin Inspection in Food - Substainable Networking for Mycotoxin Inspection in Asia (2006, Bangkok, Thailand).