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Zearalenone: Estrogenic Mycotoxin in Food

Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium molds on grain crops. It can disrupt the hormonal system in humans and animals.

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Things worth knowing about "Zearalenone"

Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium molds on grain crops. It can disrupt the hormonal system in humans and animals.

What is Zearalenone?

Zearalenone (abbreviated ZEA) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin – a toxic substance produced by mold fungi. It is primarily produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, especially Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum. These molds commonly infect cereal crops such as maize, wheat, barley, oats, and rye, particularly under warm and humid storage conditions.

Chemically, zearalenone is a resorcylic acid lactone that mimics the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen in the human and animal body. It is therefore classified as an estrogenic compound or mycoestrogen. Even small amounts of zearalenone can interfere with hormonal balance.

Occurrence and Formation

Zearalenone typically forms when grain crops grow or are stored under unusually moist conditions. The most commonly affected food sources include:

Maize (most frequent source)
Wheat and wheat-based products
Barley and barley-based products
Animal-derived foods when livestock have consumed contaminated feed (e.g., meat, milk, eggs)

The toxin is heat-stable and is not fully destroyed by normal cooking or baking. It can therefore persist in processed foods such as bread, cereals, and flour products.

Mechanism of Action

Zearalenone and its metabolites – especially α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol – bind to estrogen receptors in the body. These receptors are found in many tissues, including the uterus, breast tissue, ovarian tissue, as well as the liver and kidneys. By binding to these receptors, zearalenone mimics natural estrogen and can thereby disrupt the hormonal system.

Zearalenone is therefore classified as an endocrine disruptor – a substance capable of interfering with the hormonal systems of humans and animals.

Health Effects

Effects in Humans

In humans, the effects of zearalenone at typical dietary exposure levels are less severe than in animals, but they are scientifically significant. The following effects have been studied:

Premature puberty in girls (pubertas praecox) in individual cases
Alterations in the menstrual cycle
Potential impairment of fertility
Possible effects on breast tissue
Impairment of the immune system

Effects in Animals

Pigs are particularly sensitive to zearalenone. Even low concentrations in feed can lead to significant reproductive disorders, such as enlarged uterus, pseudopregnancy, or miscarriage. Cattle, poultry, and sheep may also be affected.

Regulatory Limits

The European Union has established legally binding maximum levels for zearalenone in food. Under EU Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 and subsequent amendments, the following limits apply:

Unprocessed cereals: 100 µg/kg
Maize flour and maize products: up to 200 µg/kg (depending on category)
Foods for infants and young children: 20 µg/kg

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.25 µg per kg body weight per day.

Diagnosis and Detection

Zearalenone can be detected in food and feed using laboratory analytical methods, including:

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) with fluorescence detection
LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry)
ELISA tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) for rapid screening

In humans, measurement of zearalenone or its metabolites in urine or blood is possible but is rarely used in routine clinical diagnostics.

Prevention and Protection

To reduce exposure to zearalenone, the following measures are recommended:

Store grain dry and cool to prevent mold growth
Maintain a varied diet with different cereal grains
Trust in regular food safety monitoring by authorities
For animal feed, use tested products with mycotoxin analysis certification

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the risks for human and animal health related to the presence of modified forms of certain mycotoxins in food and feed. EFSA Journal, 2014.
EU Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs, as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/915.
Zinedine, A. et al.: Review on the toxicity, occurrence, metabolism, detoxification, regulations and intake of zearalenone: An oestrogenic mycotoxin. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2007.

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