Balancing nutrition and safety: How phytochemicals and mycotoxins from dent and flint × dent corn are affected by different dry milling strategies

This study has assessed how different large-scale dry milling strategies redistribute phenolic acids, carotenoids, the antioxidant capacity, and mycotoxins in semolina and co-products in three corn hybrids, including a novel flint × dent genotype. The hybrids exhibited different redistribution patterns, likely because of their different kernel hardness. The soluble and bound phenolic acids, accumulated in the fine and bran fractions, led to higher retentions in the whole and semi-whole semolina, which also showed the highest mycotoxin content. Carotenoids, mainly located in the endosperm fractions, were more abundant in the refined semolina (+45% vs. whole semolina), which also showed the greatest mycotoxin reduction. Intermediate strategies, such as stone milling after degermination or bran incorporation, offered a balance between antioxidant retention and safety, depending on the initial contamination. The flint × dent hybrid showed higher carotenoid and lower mycotoxin levels than the dent one, thus supporting its potential for by-product recovery and food enhancement.