Chapter 10: Undesirables Check Access

This chapter discusses the endogenous toxins of plant foods, e.g. solanine in potatoes, caffeine in coffee and decaffeination, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, psoralens, vasopressor amines, cyanogens and cyanide formation (cassava, lima beans), protease inhibitors and lectins, fava beans, soya beans, soya milk and phytoestrogens, and myristicin. Endogenous toxins of animal foods, e.g. tetrodotoxin in puffer fish, shellfish toxins, histamine poisoning from fish (tuna, sardines etc.) are also included. The chapter discusses mycotoxins in cereals, ergotism, hepatotoxins, aflatoxins (peanuts), ochratoxins, patulin and bacterial toxins, botulinum and Staphylococcus aureus. Other undesirables that cause food allergies (e.g. cow’s milk allergy, coeliac disease and wheat allergy, and peanuts) are also covered. The regulation of toxic agricultural residues, pesticides, hormones in meat and milk, and antibiotic residues are included. The chapter looks at toxic metal residues and sources (e.g. lead in piped water and game, mercury, arsenic and cadmium pollution). Food processing and packaging residues, dioxins, PCBs and favism are also considered.