o:1579 Mycotoxin incidence in southeastern European countries: implications for the food supply chain en Mycotoxins are chemical hazards of microbiological origin, produced mainly by filamentous fungi such as secondary metabolites. Fungal and mycotoxin food contamination results in lower product quality and nutritional losses and can significantly compromise food safety, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Analyses of food and feed carried out in southeastern European countries in recent decades have revealed the presence of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FUMs), type A trichothecenes (TCTs), T-2 and HT-2 toxin (T-2/HT-2), type B TCTs, deoxynivalenol (DON), patulin (PAT) and Alternaria toxins, with varying distribution patterns and in variable oncentrations, dependent on the affected region and agricultural season. Thus, mycotoxin contamination of food and feed has a considerable impact on food safety, regional and international trade, national economies and public health. The role of mycotoxins has been recognized in the etiological background of several diseases, particularly non-communicable ones, including malignancies. Furthermore, mycotoxin contamination directly reduces food availability and increases its costs, contributing to hunger, malnutrition and growth impairment. Due to its negative impacts on public health and economy, mycotoxin contamination will continue to be a large public health challenge that must be addressed by producers, regulatory agencies, the research community and consumers. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the prevalence of mycotoxins in food and feed in the countries of southeastern Europe and to discuss their impacts on food supply chains and food system sustainability in these countries. mycotoxins, southeastern European countries, prevalence, public health, sustainable food systems 2023-04-06T10:16:11.303Z 44 yes 46 Dragan Milićević Institute of meat Hygiene and technology Mycotoxin incidence in southeastern European countries: implications for the food supply chain 0000-0003-0405-5896 Jelka Pleadin Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb person 0000-0002-0768-0462 2022 application/pdf 907019 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:1579 no yes 1 70 1556235 71A01 FAO publication Sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems for healthy diets and prevention of malnutrition in Europe and Central Asia 99-126 99 126 FAO publication Sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems for healthy diets and prevention of malnutrition in Europe and Central Asia FAO Publication 2022