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Some of America’s favorite snack foods may be hiding harmful toxins that have been linked to organ damage and an increased risk of cancer, a new study has found.
Snacks made of corn and grains – including popcorn, corn chips, cereal, and coffee – were found to have high levels of mycotoxins, contaminants that come from mold and fungi.
Mycotoxins are a group of resilient toxic substances that can survive on food in extreme temperatures. Exposure to many of these toxins has been associated with liver damage, liver cancer, kidney toxicity, impaired immune function and developmental abnormalities.
The contaminants can be ingested or absorbed through the skin, and symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning include severe stomach pain, blurry vision, brain swelling, nausea and vomiting.
The new study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, tracked the diets of 33 pregnant women and tested their urine at three different points in pregnancy.
The Rutgers University researchers discovered at least one mycotoxin in every urine sample collected.
Zearalenone, a toxin that mimics the hormone estrogen, was found in most samples at each point in pregnancy.
Popular treats such as corn chips and popcorn have been linked to have high exposure levels of mycotoxins (stock)
Fungi Fusarium is pictured above and produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect humans and animals
The toxin – classified as a mycoestrogen – disrupts the body’s hormones and can cause pregnancy complications, including low infant birth weight.
Researchers found mycoestrogen levels spiked in participants who ate corn and other grain products within 24 hours of giving a urine sample.
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‘Our findings confirm that grain-based foods are important contributors to mycoestrogen exposure among pregnant women in the US,’ lead study author Zorimar Rivera-Núñez said.
The study’s findings also showed that ethnicity may play a part when it comes to mycoestrogen levels.
Hispanic participants reported eating more corn-based products and had higher toxin levels than those who identified as non-Hispanic.
‘Identifying groups with higher exposures is a critical first step for our mycoestrogen research program,’ Rivera-Núñez said.
‘It helps us understand the factors driving those exposures and provides the information needed to develop strategies that protect maternal and child health.’
Zearalenone is included in the FDA’s Mycotoxin Compliance Program, which monitors these toxins in food. However, the agency has not set maximum allowable limits for the contaminant in food products.
By comparison, the European Commission has established limits for zearalenone in cereals, baked goods and infant foods.
The US Department of Agriculture estimates mycotoxins contaminate about 25 percent of crops worldwide. Beyond corn and grains, they can also be found in foods such as apples, celery, dried fruit, peanuts and rice.
Experts say the best way to reduce exposure is to store food in clean, dry conditions and avoid eating foods or drinks that appear moldy or have passed their ‘best by’ date.
