T-2 and HT-2 toxins in oats grown in Northern Europe

The trichothecenes T-2 and HT-2 toxins have been found at much higher levels in oats from Sweden and N. Europe in 2005-2007 compared to surveys during 1990-ties. High portions (13-44%) of the samples were above the suggested EU max level (500 mu g/kg) for the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in raw oats. Factors behind these high toxin levels have been studied. Variations due to oat variety have been found in trials, but no or small effects of fungicides. Processing of oats, cleaning and dehulling, have reduced the toxins often by more than 90%. Sortex equipment to remove discolored kernels from the dehulled kernel fraction reduced the toxins further. Oat by-products from the milling process were 3-6 times higher in HT-2 + T-2 toxins compared to original oats.