Inactivation of deoxynivalenol-contaminated cereal grains with sodium metabisulfite: a review of procedures and toxicological aspects.

Both hydrothermal treatment and wet preservation of mainly deoxynivalenol (DON)-containing, Fusarium toxin (FUS)-contaminated cereal grains with sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5 [SBS]) were successfully demonstrated to reduce the DON contamination through formation of the sulfonated derivative of DON, termed as DON sulfonate (DONS). The wet preservation is particularly interesting from a practical viewpoint as it can be easily performed at the farm level where the cereal grains are harvested and utilized in pig feeding. This review compiles the literature with regard to the chemical characterization and the detection of DONS, technical procedures and their efficacies, toxicological aspects and toxic effects of DON, DONS and SBS, and detection of DONS, DON and further metabolites in physiological specimens of pigs.