Fungi on Korean rice

Abstract

Cereals including rice are carriers of a high content of microbes of natural origin. This problem is augmented by the deficiencies of proper handling during harvesting and storage. Contamination of food grains by some fungi such as Aspergillus, Pencillium, and Fusarium species is actually known to occur very widely. During their growth, those fungi produce a group of toxic metabolites, collectively known mycotoxin. Consumption of such contami nated foodstuffs has been shown to be hazardous to a variety of animals and human. Various fungi such as Aspergillius flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus also have been found and reported in Korea. This paper presents data from a survey on the contamination of fungi in cereals and their problems in Korea.