Control of mould growth and mycotoxin production by lactic acid bacteria metabolites

Abstract

A wide spectrum of filamentous fungi is often found in various food commodities, where they can cause extensive damage and lead to sizable economic losses. The occurrence of their toxic metabolites - mycotoxins - constitutes a high risk for human and animal health. Although prevention of fungal growth and mycotoxin production on plants and in feedstuffs is usually considered as the best approach to impede the harmful effects on animal and human health, decontamination/detoxification of contaminated products is also of prime importance. Since the general public requires high quality, preservative free, safe but mildly processed food with extended shelf life, biopreservation, the control of one organism by another, has received much attention lately. Among the different potential decontaminating microorganisms, the group of the lactic acid bacteria has been considered as the most promising natural biological antagonists. Data have shown that many lactic acid bacteria can inhibit mould growth and that some of them have the potential to interact with mycotoxins. This review summarizes recent data about potential control of mould growth and mycotoxin production by lactic acid bacteria and highlights that they are very promising biological agents for food safety. © 2012 University of Bucharest.