Fumonisin is now known to cause a variety of diseases of both animals and humans. It has been linked to laucoencephalomalacia in horses, pulmonary edema in swine, cancer in laboratory mice and rats, human esophageal cancer, and human birth defects. Whitish-pink to lavender fungal growth on kernels. White streaks radiating from the point of kernel attachment. Products made from stone ground whole corn produced in the southeastern U.S. are most likely to be higher in fumonisin.
Corn is a component of a large and diverse number of human food products.
Therefore, even a minimal possibility of human health problems associated with consumption of these products could produce serious public health concerns. Since fumonisins normally occurring in corn produced in much of the U.S. are at levels bordering concern, procedures should be implemented for their control. Currently, research at the University of Illinois is attempting to identify resistance. In future years, depending upon the availability of funding, we will incorporate this resistance into useable, commercially inbred lines.