5 August 2025

2 minute read

By: dsm-firmenich

Europe

10,868 samples were collected and analyzed from 81 countries around the world, resulting in 53,382 analyses.

The results concluded that deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins mycotoxins are most frequently found, with the highest regions of mycotoxins found in North, Central and South America, South Asia, China and Taiwan.

Key findings include:

• In North America, livestock is at high risk of exposure to DON and ZEN, with occurrence rates of 78% and 83%, respectively

• In Central & South America, high risk is associated with FUM, with average contamination levels around 2,000 ppb

• South Asia continues to be highly impacted by Aflatoxins, detected in 85% of samples

• In the China/Taiwan region, FUM was found in 98% of samples, while East Asia recorded a 100% occurrence rate

• In Central Europe, DON shows a high prevalence at 85%. Southern Europe faces challenges with Aflatoxins (54%) and FUM (76%)

Ursula Hofstetter, Head of Mycotoxin Risk Management at dsm-firmenich said, “This year's findings once again highlight the widespread and persistent nature of mycotoxin contamination in feed ingredients across the globe. With risks continuing to pose a threat to animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability, proactive risk management and regular monitoring are more important than ever to maintain the profitability of both the feed industry and animal protein production sectors."

The survey also includes further details on:

• Prevalence levels for each mycotoxin in each region

• Global and local risk levels for each mycotoxin

• Risk levels posed to each species

• Comparison of prevalence levels from January-June 2024

• More information about Spectrum 380®, the most powerful mycotoxin detection method used as a research tool

• Overview on the occurrence of the most frequent mycotoxins, their masked and modified forms as well as emerging mycotoxins; based on results delivered by the most comprehensive commercially available multi-mycotoxin method, Spectrum Top® 50

About the survey

Each year since 2004, dsm-firmenich has analyzed a large number of feed samples from all around the world to understand and monitor contamination levels of the different mycotoxins in a variety of feed ingredients. This information is shared in the annual dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey.

Mycotoxins are naturally produced by the fungi that can contaminate feed raw materials in the field and during storage. When ingested by animals, mycotoxins have a wide range of negative effects such as impaired reproduction, digestive disorders, carcinogenicity, and reduced performance.

To download the dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey from January to June 2025, follow the link here.