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Corn Export Cargo Quality Report 2018/2019

Contents

  1. Export Cargo Quality Highlights
  2. Introduction
  3. Grade Factors
  4. Quality Test Results
  5. Moisture
  6. Chemical Composition
  7. Physical Factors
  8. Stress Cracks
  9. 100- Kernel Weight
  10. Kernel Volume
  11. Kernel True Density
  12. Whole Kernels
  13. Horneous (Hard) Endosperm
  14. Mycotoxins
  15. Assessing the Presence of Aflatoxins and Deoxynivalenol (DON)
  16. Background: Mycotoxins General
  17. Background: Aflatoxins
  18. Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) or Vomitoxin
  19. U.S. Corn Export System
  20. U.S. Corn Export Flow
  21. Impact of The Corn Market Channel on Quality
  22. U.S. Government Inspection and Grading
  23. Survey & Statistical Analysis Methods
  24. Survey Design & Sampling
  25. Statistical Analysis
  26. Testing Analysis Methods
  27. Grade Factors
  28. Moisture
  29. Chemical Composition
  30. Physical Factors
  31. Mycotoxins
  32. U.S. Corn Grades & Conversions

Assessing the Presence of Aflatoxins and Deoxynivalenol (DON)

To assess the effect of these conditions on aflatoxin and DON development, this report summarizes the results from official USDA FGIS aflatoxin tests and from independent DON tests for all the export samples collected as part of this survey. All (100%) of the samples (436) collected for this report were tested for aflatoxin and DON development.

A threshold established by USDA FGIS as the “Lower Conformance Level” (LCL) was used to determine whether or not a detectable level of the mycotoxin appeared in the sample. The LCLs for the FGIS-approved analytical kits used for this 2018/2019 report were 5.0 ppb for aflatoxin and 0.5 ppm for DON. The FGIS LCL was no higher than the lower Limit of Detection (LOD) of 5.0 ppb and higher than the lower LOD of 0.1 ppm specified for the aflatoxin and DON kits, respectively, used for testing the export samples collected for this survey. Details on the testing methodology employed in this study for the mycotoxins are in the “Testing Analysis Methods” section.

Results: Aflatoxins

A total of 436 export samples were tested for aflatoxin for the 2018/2019 Export Cargo Report. Results of the 2018/2019 survey testing are as follows:

  • Of the 436 samples, 418 samples, or 95.9%, had no detectable levels of aflatoxins (below the FGIS LCL of 5.0 ppb). This 95.9% is greater than 2017/2018 (93.3%) and 2016/2017 (80.0%).
  • Aflatoxin levels greater than or equal to 5.0 ppb, but less than 10.0 ppb, were found in 13 samples, or 3.0% of the 436 samples tested in 2018/2019. This percentage is slightly less than 2017/2018 (5.8%) and significantly less than 2016/2017 (16.5%).
  • Only five samples, or 1.1% of the 436 samples tested, in 2018/2019 had aflatoxin levels greater than or equal to 10.0 ppb, but below or equal to the FDA action level of 20.0 ppb. This 1.1% is about the same as 2017/2018 (0.9%) and less than 2016/2017 (3.5%).
  • None (0) of the samples tested in 2018/2019 were above the FDA action level of 20.0 ppb, which is the same as that reported in the 2017/2018 and 2016/2017 Export Cargo Reports.

Results: Deoxynivalenol (DON) or Vomitoxin

A total of 436 export samples were tested for DON for the 2018/2019 Export Cargo Report. Results of the testing are shown below:

  • DON levels less than 0.5 ppm (the FGIS LCL for DON) were found in 373 samples, or 85.6% of the 436 samples tested. This 85.6% is about the same as 2017/2018 (88.6%), but significantly greater than 2016/2017 (57.7%).

  • Sixty-three (63) samples, or 14.4% of the 436 samples tested in 2018/2019 had DON levels greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm, but less than 2.0 ppm. This 14.4% is slightly greater than 2017/2018 (10.9%), but significantly less than 2016/2017 (42.3%).
  • No (0) samples, or 0.0% of the 436 samples tested in 2018/2019 had DON levels greater than or equal to 2.0 ppm, but less than or equal to the FDA advisory level of 5.0 ppm. This 0.0% for 2018/2019 is similar to 2017/2018 (0.5%) and 2016/2017 (0.0%).
  • None (0) of the 436 samples tested in 2018/2019 were above the FDA advisory level of 5.0 ppm, which is the same as that reported in the 2017/2018 and 2016/2017 Export Reports.