Options for Handling
Aflatoxin Contaminated Grain

          If a crop of grain is found contaminated with aflatoxin, a number of alternatives might be considered concerning how to best handle the grain.

1. Crop Destruction in the Field:  Crop destruction in the field may be appropriate if aflatoxin levels exceed the maximum allowed for any use or for remedial blending or ammoniation processes. Aflatoxin levels of 1000 ppb or above leave few or no alternatives. Crop insurance may cover crop destruction if a pre-harvest analysis clearly demonstrated the excessive aflatoxin condition.
   
   
2. Selective Feeding:  Adult animals generally are more tolerant of aflatoxin than younger animals. Animal species differ in their sensitivity to aflatoxin consumption. See the section Regulatory Aspects for the FDA aflatoxin action levels for various animals.
   
   
3. Screening the Grain:  Various gravity table and shaker screening devices exist which can significantly lower the aflatoxin levels in a lot of grain by effectively removing light weight and broken grain which often contain high levels of aflatoxin. Grain with low to moderate levels of aflatoxin contamination may be cleaned to meet desired use levels. However, in some cases significant amounts of light weight and broken grain may be removed, and thus reduce the total grain volume.
   
   
4. Blending and Ammoniation:  With certain limitations, blending of aflatoxin contaminated corn with aflatoxin-free or less-contaminated corn is an approved practice in Texas. The process of ammoniation of aflatoxin-contaminated corn or cottonseed to detoxify the aflatoxin is also approved for Texas. Blended or ammoniated corn can only be used in Texas and cannot enter interstate transport. Any attempts at blending or ammoniation must be preceded by a permit by the Office of the Texas State Chemist before the grain enters commercial chains. See the section Regulatory Aspects for more information on blending and ammoniation regulatory aspects.
   
   
5. Feed Additives:  Several feed additives registered by the FDA as anti-caking agents have shown some promise in research tests as aflatoxin-binding agents which inhibit the ability of the aflatoxin to be absorbed in the animal’s gut. Bentonite clay and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) added to feed have been shown to decrease the effect of aflatoxin fed to swine and poultry. The HSCAS product NovaSil was shown to be effective at 10 pounds of compound per ton of aflatoxin-contaminated feed at a minimal cost. The bentonite clay product Volclay has also been shown to be effective when added at the rate of 10 pounds per ton of feed.