Mycotoxin contamination of susceptible commodities occurs due to environmental conditions in the field and improper harvesting, storage and processing operations. To help strengthen human resources in Southeast Asia to address this problem, BIOTROP, in collaboration with Kasetsart University (KU) of Thailand, conducted its 5th Regional Training Course on Mycotoxin Prevention and Control on Food and Feedstuff on 14-18 September 2015 at KU campus, Bangkok.
Twenty-five 25 participants coming from government and private institutions in Cambodia (1), Indonesia (6), Lao PDR (1), Philippines (1), Thailand (14) and Vietnam (2) completed the training course.
This training course was aimed to equip the participants with basic and applied knowledge and skills to prevent and control mycotoxin in food and feedstuff with special emphasis on proper implementation of the HACCP system.
The training course consisted of lecture-discussions, laboratory exercises and visits/field trip to Charoen Pokphand Food Chonburi and Cultural trip. The training topics included (1) Overview of food mycotoxin problems in Thailand and Southeast Asia Countries; (2) Toxigenic fungi and mycotoxin in grains; (3) Introduction to HACCP and its seven principles; (4) HACCP in relation to prevention and control of mycotoxin; (5) Spoilage fungi in food and feedstuff, their prevention and control; (6) Detection of toxigenic fungi using molecular technique; (7) Sampling technique for food and feed industry; and (8) Determination of mycotoxin contents using LC and FL methods.
The expected output from this training course were: (1) Identify the factors affecting fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination in food and feedstuff; (2) Apply appropriate techniques in sampling commodities for mycotoxin analysis; (3) Analyze mycotoxins in food and feedstuff using fluorometer and liquid chromatography method; and (4) Prepare an HACCP program for prevention and control of mycotoxin contaminationconsisting of hazard analysis and formulation of preventive measures, identification of critical control points (CCPs), establishment of critical limits, and monitoring of each CCP.
The training resource persons and facilitators were Prof Naresh Magan from Cranfield University, UK; Dr Warapa Mahakarnchanakul, Dr Patcharavipa Chaijjuckam Mr Thanapoom Maneeboon, Ms Chanram Rookpaham, Ms Panrapee Lamtaweejaroen, Ms Chananya Chuaysrinule, and Mr Phakpoom Kooprasertying from Kasetsart University, Thailand; Mr Jerry Ding from Vicam Asia Pacific, Thailand; Mr Banpot Ardanurak from Thonganurak Co. Ltd, Thailand; and Dr Jess Fernandez, Ms Santi Ambarwati and Ms Maya Masita Novianti from BIOTROP. M s Santi Ambarwati and Dr. Warapa Mahakarnchanakul coordinated the training course.
This training course was funded by Government of Indonesia, Southeast Asia Development Fund (SEDF), Vicam Asia Pacific, Thonganurak Co. Ltd. Thailand, PT Radin Indonesia, Ngu Phi Scientific Vietnam and Chaeron Pokhpand Thailand.
BIOTROP has been conducting research on the management of fungi and mycotoxin in food and feedstuff since 1984. The Centre has also conducted four regional courses on the same subject matter in 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2014 in collaboration with various regional institutions.
Written by Santi Ambarwati and Maya Masita Novianti
