Global Aflatoxin Limits in Cereals Under Review
Regulators are collecting data on mold toxins in grains and infant cereals that could change how much aflatoxin the global food supply may contain.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Do you trust that grains and flour sold in stores are safe from mold toxins?
The FAO and WHO are asking governments, laboratories, and industry for data on aflatoxin levels in cereal grains and cereal-based foods, to help determine whether current international limits remain appropriate. Submissions are requested for occurrence data collected from 2016 and 2022 onward, with a deadline of March 31, 2027.
Why it matters
Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain molds that can contaminate staple cereals, and international maximum levels shape what food-safety authorities allow into commerce worldwide. Because the request follows discussions at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods in 2026, it signals that global standards for these toxins may be revised based on fresh exposure data.
This is a data call rather than a completed study, with submissions covering maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, barley, oats, and other cereals as well as infant cereal foods. The outcome will depend on the volume and quality of data received by the March 31, 2027 deadline.
The players
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The United Nations agency that leads international efforts on food security, agriculture, and nutrition, and co-sponsors the Codex Alimentarius with WHO.
World Health Organization (WHO)
The United Nations health agency that sets global public health guidance, including on foodborne contaminants, and co-sponsors the Codex Alimentarius with FAO.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
An independent scientific body that evaluates food additives and contaminants, including mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, to advise international food standards.
The details
Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi that can grow on crops such as maize, rice, wheat, and sorghum when conditions favor mold growth. Regulators set maximum levels for these toxins in specific foods, and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reviews occurrence data to assess how contamination actually appears in the food supply. The request covers aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, and it applies to both raw grains and derived products such as flour and processed cereal foods.
Timeline
January 1, 2016: start of the occurrence data period for commodities without established total aflatoxin maximum levels.
January 1, 2022: start of the occurrence data period for commodities with existing maximum levels.
2026: 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods held, where discussions prompted the request.
March 31, 2027: deadline for submitting aflatoxin occurrence data.
Health Landscape
International maximum levels under the Codex Alimentarius set the baseline for aflatoxin limits in traded cereals, and they are periodically reviewed as new occurrence data accumulate. This call therefore sits within an ongoing cycle of evidence gathering that determines how strictly global food trade is regulated for these toxins.
If you eat large amounts of maize, rice, or cereal-based products, this review may eventually affect how tightly those foods are monitored for aflatoxins. Individual concerns about exposure are worth raising with your doctor, especially for infants and young children who eat cereal-based foods.
The takeaway
Aflatoxin limits in cereals are being reassessed using fresh global data, which means current standards may tighten or change in the years ahead. Readers who want to track the outcome can follow Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods discussions and the JECFA reports that follow the March 31, 2027 data deadline.
What happens next
Aflatoxin occurrence data submissions are due by March 31, 2027, after which JECFA and the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods will consider whether existing maximum levels need revision.
Further reading
For broader context on how contaminant-free grains are grown and regulated, explore our Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food-safety.
Live Poll
Do you trust that grains and flour sold in stores are safe from mold toxins?
