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Public Health Significance of Molds and Mycotoxins in Fermented Dairy Products

Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583

ABSTRACT

Mold growth on cheese and other fermented dairy products is a common and recurring problem. Potential mycotoxin contamination is serious since some molds can grow and produce mycotoxins at temperatures as low as –2 to 10°C. Work can be divided into: 1) incidence, types, and mycotoxin-producing potential of molds in fermented dairy products, 2) experimental mycotoxin production on cheese under conditions of storage and aging of cheese, 3) natural occurrence of mycotoxins in commercial samples of cheese, and 4) potential toxicity of Penicillium roqueforti and its significance in blue veined cheeses.

Molds most common on cheese and fermented dairy products are Penicillium species. Mycotoxins produced by these organisms are penicillic acid, patulin, ochratoxin A, and citrinin. Percentages of molds in cheese capable of producing some commonly studied mycotoxins ranged from 1.8% to 12.4%. Cheese is an excellent substrate for mold growth but a poor substrate for mycotoxin production. Several natural occurrences of mycotoxins in cheese include small and variable amounts of patulin, penicillic acid, sterigmatocystin (600 µg/kg), penitrem A, and mycophenolic acid. Penicillium roqueforti is capable of producing toxic alkaloids and other compounds. The significance of these substances for human health is unclear.

The decision to trim or to discard moldy cheese can be aided by considering the risk versus benefit based on storage history (temperature), extent of mold growth, appearance of mold (color), and size of cheese.