Let's say you're trying to lose 20 pounds or boost your immunity or increase your ability

to fight COVID or even cancer.

Well, the amazing thing is with the right diet, you are well in your way to achieving these

vital health goals.

Welcome to the Nutrition Facts Podcast.

I'm your host, Dr. Michael Greger.

Today we have more information about the mycotoxins found in our food supply and as it turns

out the overall cost-benefit ratio for mycotoxins depends on which food is contaminated.

Ocrotoxin has been described as toxic to the immune system, developing fetus kidneys

and nervous system as well as being carcinogenic.

But that's in animal studies.

Ocrotoxin causes kidney toxicity in certain animal species, but there's little documented

evidence of adverse effects in humans.

That's why it's only considered a possible human carcinogen.

Big ag assured is that current Ocrotoxin levels are safe.

Even among those who eat a lot of contaminated foods, the worst case scenario, maybe young

children eating a lot of oat-based cereals, but even then, their lifetime cancer risk is

considered negligible with those arguing against regulatory standards suggesting you can eat

more than 42 cups of oatmeal a day and not worry about it.

Where do they get these kinds of estimates?

They determine the so-called benchmark dose in animals, the dose of the toxin that gives

a 10% increase in pathology, and then because you want to err on the side of caution, you

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