2012's extreme weather conditions - in the US one of the worst droughts in recent history, in Northern and Western Europe one of the wettest summers -have highlighted one of the most complex problems for the pet industry: that of mycotoxins in pet foods. Moulds thrive in damp, humid conditions, whilst the stress caused to crops during drought are also key triggers for mycotoxin production. Either way, the global mycotoxin challenge is greater in 2013, and more worrying, than it has been for many years. Aflatoxin, for example, capable of causing serious illness, even death, is a by-product of the Aspergillus mould that has flourished on corn during last year's US drought. According to crop insurance data from the US Department of Agriculture, payouts for mycotoxins, of which Aflatoxins are the most common in the US, have reached almost US$75 million in 2013, three times the 2012 level, with 85% of claims filed in the six states hardest hit by the drought.
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