Mycotoxins are a group of naturally occurring chemicals produced by certain moulds. They can grow on a variety of different crops and foodstuffs including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apple juice and coffee, often under warm and humid conditions. Mycotoxins are toxic to vertebrates and humans at low concentrations. Mycotoxicoses in humans or animals have been characterized as food or feed related, non-contagious, non-transferable, and non-infectious.
Mycotoxins have various acute and chronic effects on humans and animals, depending on the species.