Comprehensive multi-mycotoxin risk assessment of Korean pet food using QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS
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With the rapid growth of the pet food industry, concerns over mycotoxin safety have increased. As companion animals live longer, the effects of chronic low-level mycotoxin exposure have gained greater importance; however, in-depth studies remain limited. This study analyzed 11 major mycotoxins in pet foods sold domestically in Korea using the QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method and evaluated the adequacy of current regulatory standards. A total of 198 samples (125 staple foods and 73 snacks) were analyzed, with mycotoxins detected in 46% of them. Zearalenone (22.7%) and fumonisin B (18.7%) were the most frequently detected toxins. Among positive samples, 69.2% contained multiple mycotoxins simultaneously, most commonly both zearalenone and fumonisin B. A strong positive correlation (r=0.99) between their concentrations indicated frequent co-contamination. Although all detected mycotoxin levels were within current Korean regulatory limits, these may not fully reflect the health risks posed by chronic low-level exposure in companion animals. This study represents one of the few quantitative assessments of multi-mycotoxin contamination in domestically distributed pet foods and suggests the need for more conservative safety standards and expanded testing parameters. Furthermore, future long-term improvements should consider establishing toxicological thresholds reflecting pet-specific characteristics, designing strategies to reduce co-contamination, and strengthening surveillance systems for grain-free products.
Abstract
With the rapid growth of the pet food industry, concerns over mycotoxin safety have increased. As companion animals live longer, the effects of chronic low-level mycotoxin exposure have gained greater importance; however, in-depth studies remain limited. This study analyzed 11 major mycotoxins in pet foods sold domestically in Korea using the QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method and evaluated the adequacy of current regulatory standards. A total of 198 samples (125 staple foods and 73 snacks) were analyzed, with mycotoxins detected in 46% of them. Zearalenone (22.7%) and fumonisin B (18.7%) were the most frequently detected toxins. Among positive samples, 69.2% contained multiple mycotoxins simultaneously, most commonly both zearalenone and fumonisin B. A strong positive correlation (r=0.99) between their concentrations indicated frequent co-contamination. Although all detected mycotoxin levels were within current Korean regulatory limits, these may not fully reflect the health risks posed by chronic low-level exposure in companion animals. This study represents one of the few quantitative assessments of multi-mycotoxin contamination in domestically distributed pet foods and suggests the need for more conservative safety standards and expanded testing parameters. Furthermore, future long-term improvements should consider establishing toxicological thresholds reflecting pet-specific characteristics, designing strategies to reduce co-contamination, and strengthening surveillance systems for grain-free products.