Fumonisin and some other mycotoxins are highly toxic, causing fatal diseases in livestock that eat infected corn and esophageal cancer in humans.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

In 2003, the UK Food Safety Agency tested six organic corn meal products and 20 conventional (non-organic) corn meal products for fumonisin contamination.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

As the Bt-corn fends off insect pests, it also reduces the levels of the mold Fusarium, thereby reducing the levels of the fungal toxin fumonisin.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

Fumonisin also interferes with the cellular uptake of folic acid, a vitamin that is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in developing fetuses.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and UK Food Safety Agency have established recommended maximum fumonisin levels in food and feed products made from corn.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

Indeed, researchers at Iowa State University and the US Department of Agriculture found that in Bt-corn the level of fumonisin is reduced by as much as 80% compared to conventional corn.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch

Over the centuries, the main culprits in mass food poisoning have often been mycotoxins, such as ergotamine from ergot or fumonisin from Fusarium species, resulting from the fungal contamination of unprocessed crops.

FORBES: Bittman of the 'New York Times': Always Out To Lunch