FAO and WHO Seek Aflatoxin Data for Cereals
Joint food safety experts request occurrence data on aflatoxins in maize, rice, wheat and other cereals ahead of a March 31, 2027 deadline.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Organic Food
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FAO and WHO are asking governments and institutions to submit occurrence data on aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in cereal commodities. The request follows discussions at the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods in 2026.
Why it matters
The data will help the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods determine whether existing maximum levels for total aflatoxins remain appropriate or need revision. Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins that can contaminate staple grains, so the outcome may affect food safety standards for widely consumed cereals worldwide.
Preferred analytical limits of quantification range from 0.5 to 5 micrograms per kilogram for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, and all submitted data will be considered regardless of limit. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2027, and the source does not state what conclusions will follow.
The players
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The FAO is a United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve food security and nutrition.
World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO is the United Nations agency responsible for international public health, including food safety standards.
Codex Alimentarius Commission
Codex is a joint FAO and WHO body that develops international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect consumer health.
The details
Data submissions are requested for maize grain and derived products, husked and polished rice, sorghum grain intended for further processing, and cereal-based foods for infants and young children. Wheat and wheat-derived products and other cereals including barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, rye, spelt and quinoa are also covered.
Timeline
January 1, 2016: occurrence data period begins for commodities without total aflatoxin maximum levels.
January 1, 2022: occurrence data period begins for commodities with existing maximum levels.
2026: 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods held.
March 31, 2027: deadline for aflatoxin data submissions.
Culture Shift
The request reflects Codex's ongoing practice of revisiting mycotoxin maximum levels through the Committee on Contaminants in Foods rather than setting them once. It places aflatoxin control for staple grains within a standards-setting cycle that relies on new national occurrence data.
Producers, exporters and testing laboratories that handle maize, rice, wheat or infant cereals may be asked to supply aflatoxin occurrence records before the March 31, 2027 deadline. Consumers should expect any resulting changes to aflatoxin limits to appear in future national food safety rules rather than immediately.
The takeaway
Aflatoxin limits for grains depend on fresh occurrence data gathered across many countries, so standards can change as testing improves. Readers buying staple cereals and infant foods should watch for updated guidance once the Codex review concludes.
Further reading
For more on how cereal contaminant standards are set, explore our Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food-safety.
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