Toxic Mold and You

In summary, healthy foods like whole grains are good, but not as good as they could be because of ochratoxin. Whereas less healthful foods, like wine and pork, are worse because the of the mycotoxin. Ochratoxin was detected, for example, in 44% of tested pork.

Every additional ounce of whole grains a day is associated not only with a lower risk for cancer, but also a lower risk of dying from all causes put together.

Indeed, aflatoxin remains a public health threat in Africa, rural China, southeast Asia, affecting more than half of humanity, which explains why the prevalence of liver cancer in those areas may be 30 times higher. But it is not a major problem in the US or Europe.

It's been estimated that about a fifth of all liver cancer cases may be attributable to aflatoxins.

Only about 1% of Americans have detectable levels of aflatoxins in their bloodstream.