Parasiticol

Parasiticol is a mycotoxin produced by the mould Aspergillus parasiticus, a close relative of Aspergillus flavus and a noted producer of aflatoxins in nuts, grains, and oilseeds. Like other Aspergillus secondary metabolites, it can contaminate crops in the field and, more importantly, during warm, humid storage when the fungus thrives on damaged kernels. Although less studied than the major aflatoxins, its occurrence signals the same failures of drying, storage, and handling that allow toxigenic moulds to flourish. Monitoring for Aspergillus mycotoxins in susceptible commodities is a standard part of food safety surveillance, with regulatory limits set for the most hazardous members of the group and rapid test kits used at grain intake.