U.S. Food and Drug Administration Guidelines for Fumonisin Levels
Corn and corn by-products containing less than 5 parts per million fumonisin is considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in all animal feed. Corn and corn by-products exceeding 5 ppm can be fed only for specific species, age, and production stage. The recommended maximum levels for fumonisins in animal feeds that FDA considers achievable with the use of good agricultural and good manufacturing practices are presented below. FDA believes that controlling fumonisins to these recommended levels can reduce exposure to fumonisins that may be found in corn products intended for animal consumption.
| Class of Animal | Commodities ∓ Portion of Diet | Levels in Corn & Corn By-products (in parts per million) | Levels in Finished Feeds (in parts per million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equids and rabbits | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 20% of diet ** | 5 ppm | 1 ppm |
| Swine and catfish | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 50% of diet ** | 20 ppm | 10 ppm |
| Breeding ruminants, breeding poultry and breeding mink* | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 50% of diet ** | 30 ppm | 15 ppm |
| Ruminants < 3 months old being raised for slaughter and mink being raised for pelt production | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 50% of diet ** | 60 ppm | 30 ppm |
| Poultry being raised for slaughter | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 50% of diet ** | 100 ppm | 50 ppm |
| All other species or classes of livestock and pet animals | For corn and corn by-products not to exceed 50% of diet ** | 10 ppm | 5 ppm |
*Includes lactating dairy cattle and hens laying eggs for human consumption
**Dry weight basis