What is a primary concern regarding moldy corn seed in relation to food safety?

Moldy corn seed is a significant concern for food safety primarily due to aflatoxin, which is a potent mycotoxin produced by certain molds that can grow on corn and other crops under warm and humid conditions. Aflatoxin is particularly dangerous because it is highly toxic and can lead to serious health issues, including liver damage and cancer in humans and animals.

The presence of aflatoxin in corn can occur during both the growing season when the corn is exposed to specific environmental conditions, and during storage if the corn has high moisture content. This makes testing for aflatoxin levels crucial for food safety and for preventing contaminated corn from entering the food supply.

While salmonella, vomitoxin, and nitrates are also relevant health concerns in agriculture, they are associated with different conditions or crops. Salmonella often relates to bacterial contamination, vomitoxin (also known as deoxynivalenol) is produced by a different group of molds primarily affecting wheat and barley, and nitrates are typically linked to excessive fertilizer use and can cause health issues like methemoglobinemia but do not derive from moldy corn seed. Thus, aflatoxin stands out as the primary concern linked specifically to moldy corn seed in relation to food