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EFSA Finds Five Alternaria Mold Toxins in Food Can Damage DNA, With Young Children Most Exposed

The European Food Safety Authority updated its risk assessment of eight Alternaria toxins found in cereals, tomatoes, fruit juices and paprika powder. Five are genotoxic, and infants and toddlers have the highest exposure for their body weight.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said on Nov. 11 that five of eight Alternaria toxins it assessed are genotoxic, meaning they can damage DNA. The toxins come from molds that can grow on cereals, fruit, tomatoes and other vegetables. Infants, toddlers and other young children had the highest exposure relative to body weight.

TLDR

  • The five genotoxic toxins are alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altertoxin I, altertoxin II and stemphyltoxin III.
  • Estimated average exposure to AOH and AME exceeded a screening threshold for DNA-damaging substances in most population groups, Food Safety Magazine reported.
  • Tenuazonic acid, the toxin found most often, was highest in mulberries, paprika powder and tomatoes. Data were not enough to say whether it is genotoxic.
  • EFSA called for more data and research.

What EFSA Found

The assessment updates EFSA’s earlier work on Alternaria toxins. It is a scientific opinion from EFSA’s panel on contaminants in the food chain.

EFSA concluded that AOH, AME, altertoxin I, altertoxin II and stemphyltoxin III are genotoxic. Food Safety Magazine reported that estimated average long-term exposure to AOH and AME exceeded a screening threshold in most population groups. That threshold is 2.5 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day. EFSA’s scientific panel said the two damage DNA through a mechanism with no safe threshold. For the other three, a lack of occurrence data meant the risk could not be characterized, according to the opinion.

Two toxins, altenuene and tentoxin, were not a concern. EFSA said estimated dietary exposure was well below levels that might cause adverse effects.

Tomatoes, Paprika and Cereals

Tenuazonic acid was the toxin found most often in food, especially in mulberries, paprika powder and tomatoes, according to EFSA. Food Safety Magazine reported that processed tomato products had higher levels than fresh tomatoes.

EFSA said available data are not enough to determine whether tenuazonic acid is genotoxic. For its other effects, EFSA concluded with 98% certainty that there is a low probability of adverse effects from dietary exposure.

The main foods behind exposure were cereal-based foods, fruit products and juices, tomatoes, vegetables, grain-based foods, olive oil and sunflower oil, according to EFSA. Food Safety Magazine reported that the assessment drew on 57,104 analytical results from 16,283 food samples collected from 2015 to 2024. It said higher exposure estimates than before reflect better coverage of food categories, not evidence of more contamination.

Children and Animals

Infants, toddlers and other young children had the highest exposure relative to their body weight, EFSA said.

For animals, EFSA said AOH and AME are unlikely to be a concern for chickens raised for meat. It said health concerns from tenuazonic acid cannot be ruled out for meat chickens and laying hens. More data are needed for most other species.

Why It Matters

Alternaria needs more than 20% water content to colonize plant tissue, so fruit and vegetables are especially susceptible, FoodNavigator reported. Grain harvested in wet weather or stored damp may also face higher risk. EFSA recommends more research and more sensitive testing methods, FoodNavigator reported. The update gives regulators and food makers a clearer list of which mold toxins to watch, and in which foods.

Sources: EFSA (Nov. 11, 2026); EFSA scientific opinion; Food Safety Magazine (Nov. 11, 2026); FoodNavigator (Augustus Bambridge-Sutton, Nov. 11, 2026).