Are mycotoxins a health hazard in Australia? 2. Ochratoxin A

On the world scale, five mycotoxins or groups of mycotoxins are considered to be important in human health: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone (GASGA 1993, Miller 1996). Other mycotoxins are considered to be important in specific regions of the world, however with current knowledge only those mentioned above are likely to have an impact in Australia. This paper deals with ochratoxin A, a newly recognised problem in some Australian foods. The other toxins have been considered in a companion paper (Pitt and Tomaska 2001).