Climate Change and Mycotoxins: First Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Austrian Corn Confirms Emerging Food Safety Risks

Rising temperatures and more frequent periods of drought are not only affecting agricultural yields—they are also changing the risk of mycotoxin contamination. A recent study from Austria provides the first evidence of aflatoxin B1 in corn grown in Lower Austria, confirming scientific predictions about the impact of climate change on food safety.

Climate Change Is Altering Mycotoxin Contamination

The effects of climate change on agriculture are often associated with declining crop yields, water scarcity, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. However, another equally important consequence has received far less attention: changes in the microbial communities associated with agricultural crops.

As temperatures continue to rise, the habitats of many fungi and plant pathogens are shifting. Thermophilic species that were previously confined mainly to southern Europe are increasingly spreading northward, creating new challenges for food and feed safety.

A recent study by Rennhofer et al. (2026), published in Food Control, provides compelling evidence of this trend. For the first time, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was detected in corn cultivated in Lower Austria.

What Is Aflatoxin B1?

Aflatoxin B1 is a highly toxic mycotoxin produced primarily by the mold Aspergillus flavus. It is considered one of the most potent naturally occurring carcinogens and has been classified as a significant health hazard by both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Even low levels of exposure may pose long-term health risks. Consequently, the European Union has established strict maximum limits for aflatoxins in food and feed.

Historically, aflatoxin contamination has been largely restricted to tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean regions. However, climate models have long predicted that increasing temperatures and prolonged drought conditions will elevate the risk of contamination in Central Europe.

Study Overview

The investigation is part of the long-term BOKU TTox-Monitor project, which examines the impact of climate change on mycotoxin occurrence in corn and wheat.

During the first year of the study:

• 24 corn hybrids
• were grown in four replicates
• across a total of 96 experimental plots

under standardized field conditions at an experimental site near Tulln, Lower Austria.

To analyze the samples, researchers employed an advanced LC-MS/MS method capable of simultaneously detecting more than 700 fungal and plant metabolites. This comprehensive approach enabled the identification of both regulated and emerging mycotoxins.

First Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Corn from Lower Austria

The study's most significant finding was the first confirmed detection of aflatoxin B1 in one of the 96 experimental plots.

Measured concentrations ranged from 4.47 to 29.49 µg/kg, and repeated analyses unequivocally confirmed the result.

Microbiological analyses simultaneously identified the responsible fungus, Aspergillus flavus.

Interestingly, A. flavus was also detected in a neighboring plot where no aflatoxin B1 was found. This observation demonstrates that not every fungal strain necessarily produces toxins and that additional environmental factors play a critical role in aflatoxin biosynthesis.

Why Did Aflatoxin Appear in 2024?

According to the authors, the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 was closely linked to the exceptional climatic conditions experienced during 2024.

The study reports that 2024 was the hottest year since weather records began in Lower Austria. During the most sensitive stages of corn development, crops were exposed to:

• prolonged heat,
• limited precipitation,
• severe drought stress.

These conditions are considered highly favorable for the growth of Aspergillus flavus and the production of aflatoxins.

In addition, severe infestation by the European corn borer was observed. Feeding damage caused by the insect facilitates fungal infection and substantially increases the risk of contamination.

The findings clearly illustrate the close relationship between climate change, plant stress, insect damage, and mycotoxin formation.

Other Mycotoxins Were Widespread

In addition to aflatoxin B1, the researchers analyzed numerous other mycotoxins.

The most frequently detected compounds included:

• Fumonisins
• Deoxynivalenol (DON)
• Zearalenone (ZEN)
• T-2 and HT-2 toxins

Although most concentrations remained below current EU regulatory limits, regulated mycotoxins were detected in approximately 90% of all experimental plots.

The study also revealed substantial spatial variability. Even within the same field, neighboring plots displayed markedly different mycotoxin profiles. These findings highlight the complexity of mycotoxin contamination and emphasize the importance of representative sampling strategies and highly sensitive analytical methods.

What Does This Mean for Agriculture and the Food Industry?

The study confirms scientific predictions that climate change is shifting the risk of aflatoxin contamination into Central Europe.

For agriculture, the food industry, and regulatory authorities, this means:

• Monitoring programs must be continuously adapted.
• Emerging mycotoxins must be detected at an early stage.
• Climate-driven changes in mycotoxin profiles should be monitored over the long term.
• Preventive measures and risk management strategies will become increasingly important.

Food safety is therefore becoming not only a matter of analytical testing but also of climate adaptation.

Why Multi-Mycotoxin Analysis Will Become Essential

One of the most important aspects of the study is the analytical approach employed.

The detection of aflatoxin B1 was possible because researchers used a comprehensive multi-mycotoxin screening method. Rather than targeting only a small number of known contaminants, the LC-MS/MS method simultaneously analyzed several hundred relevant metabolites.

Under changing climatic conditions, focusing on individual mycotoxins alone is no longer sufficient. New contamination patterns are emerging gradually and can only be identified if monitoring programs are broad enough to capture a wide spectrum of toxins.

Multiplex analyses make a valuable contribution by simultaneously detecting multiple relevant mycotoxins, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of sample contamination.

SAFIA Multiplex: Efficient Monitoring for Future Challenges

The SAFIA Multiplex Assay enables the simultaneous determination of multiple relevant mycotoxins in a single analysis. This approach allows efficient monitoring of changing mycotoxin profiles and supports the early identification of emerging contamination risks.

Against the backdrop of climate change, multiplex analyses are becoming increasingly important for both scientific research and quality management in the food and feed industries.

Conclusion

The first detection of aflatoxin B1 in Austrian corn represents far more than an isolated scientific observation. It provides clear evidence that climate change is already influencing the distribution of mycotoxin-producing fungi in Central Europe.

Going forward, long-term monitoring programs, advanced multi-mycotoxin analytical methods, and high-performance multiplex technologies will be essential for identifying emerging contamination risks at an early stage and ensuring food and feed safety throughout the entire supply chain.