Aflatoxin B2 in food: ingestion safety

What is aflatoxin b2?

Also known as: AFLATOXIN G2, 2MS0D8WA29, (3S,7R)-11-methoxy-6,8,16,20-tetraoxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.03,7.013,18]icosa-1,9,11,13(18)-tetraene-17,19-dione, (7AR,cis)3,4,7a,9,10,10a-hexahydro-5-methoxy-1H,12H-furo(3',2':4,5)furo(2,3-h)pyrano(3,4-c)chromene-1,12-dione.

CAS number

7241-98-7

Molecular formula

C17H14O7

Molecular weight

330.29 g/mol

SMILES

COC1=C2C3=C(C(=O)OCC3)C(=O)OC2=C4C5CCOC5OC4=C1

PubChem CID

2724362

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Aflatoxin B2.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter aflatoxin b2

• Food Chain — contaminated grain

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Aflatoxin B2:

• Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
  Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions