Fumonisins are deadly toxins produced by a fungus naturally present on maize. They have caused serious health damage and deaths which are documented in Hispanic America, South Africa, and China. The most worrying concern about the risk from mouldy grain is spina bifida birth defect. Epidemics of birth defects associated with mouldy corn have occurred in North America.
GMO Pundit will post further on this topic, but to start the series, the Pundit is providing a link to the earlier history of the topic written by Professor Marasas, discoverer of fumonisin toxicity. Professor Marasas was extremely gracious in briefing the GMO Pundit on this topic in Cape Town earlier this year:
Environmental Health Perspectives Supplements Volume 109, Number S2, May 2001
Discovery and Occurrence of the Fumonisins: A Historical Perspective
Walter F.O. Marasas
Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
See later posts:
Mouldy Maize and human health
GMO maize lowers mycotoxins
Mycotoxins in organic produce.
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