Impact of industrial dry-milling on fumonisin redistribution in non-transgenic corn in Brazil

- Dry-milling reduced fumonisin levels in endosperm, cornmeal and grits.
- Germ and pericarp showed the highest fumonisin levels.
- Whole corn contamination did not influence fumonisin levels in inner fractions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) during industrial dry-milling in two lots from 2014 (n = 120) and 2015 (n = 120) of non-transgenic corn and their fractions (germ, pericarp, endosperm, cornmeal and grits), collected from one of the major Brazilian milling industries. Fumonisins were concentrated in the germ and pericarp at a rate of 322% and 188% (lot 1) and 311% and 263% (lot 2), respectively. In the endosperm, cornmeal and grits fumonisin levels decreased from 60 to 95%. Fumonisin levels in cornmeal and grits were below the maximum limit tolerated by the European Commission. Therefore, corn industrial dry-milling can contribute to reducing fumonisin levels in corn products intended for human consumption.