Reducing Food Waste: Degradation of Aflatoxin B1, Zearalenone and Deoxynivalenol in Grain and Oil by Biological Methods

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) represent the major mycotoxins contaminating cereals. They impair cereal utilizable value and accumulate in processing byproducts, causing substantial food waste. Accordingly, mycotoxin mitigation in grain-oil kernels and their derivatives is practically significant. This review summarizes microorganisms and degrading enzymes for these three mycotoxins. It outlines degrading microorganisms and reveals the pathways and characteristics underlying degradation. Additional emphasis is placed on degrading enzymes, including enzyme identification, modification and functional mechanisms. Special attention is paid to the detoxification mechanisms, alterations in product structures and toxicity variations, which are a prerequisite for achieving genuine detoxification. Potential applications of detoxified raw materials and processing byproducts are also summarized. Finally, limitations and future research directions are discussed. For instance, identification and engineering of degrading enzymes constitute a key to improving degradation efficiency. This reviewis expected to provide referable strategies for reducing food waste and improving energy-utilization efficiency.