Impact of environmental factors on ochratoxin A: From natural occurrence to control strategy

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 317; p. 120767
• Main Authors: Wang, Gang, Li, Erfeng, Gallo, Antonia, Perrone, Giancarlo, Varga, Elisabeth, Ma, Junning, Yang, Bolei, Tai, Bowen, Xing, Fuguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2023
• Subjects: Aspergillus; Environment; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Safety; Mechanism; Ochratoxigenic fungi; Ochratoxins - analysis; OTA; Prevention; Prevention; Environment; OTA; Ochratoxigenic fungi; Mechanism
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120767

Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination and the associated issues of food security, food safety and economic loss are widespread throughout the world. The occurrence of OTA depends on ochratoxigenic fungi, foodstuffs and their environment. In this review, natural occurrence and control strategy of OTA, with a focus on the impact of environmental factors, are summarized. First, this manuscript introduces potentially contaminated foodstuffs, including the emerging ones which are not regulated in international legislation. Secondly, it gives an update of native producers based on foodstuffs and OTA biosynthesis. Thirdly, complicated environmental regulation is disassembled into individual factors in order to clarify their regulatory effect and mechanism. Finally, to emphasize control OTA at all stages of foodstuffs from farm to table, strategies used at crop planting, harvest, storage and processing stages are discussed. [Display omitted] •An overview of potentially contaminated foodstuffs.•The biosynthesis of OTA in native producer.•Impact of environmental factors on ochratoxigenic fungi.•The mechanism of environmental factors regulating the production of OTA.•Control strategies for OTA regarding different stages and foodstuffs.