Evolution of the Quality and Safety of Edible Fungi in China Based on Risk Grading

Abstract

This study analyzed data pertaining to edible fungi, providing a scientific basis for food-safety-related risk assessment and suggestions for risk management. The entropy weight method was used for classifying risk substances associated with edible fungi. Using global and partial correlation analyses, nationwide spatial distribution characteristics of high-risk substances were studied. The results revealed chloroanisole as a circulatory high-risk substance. Additional high-risk substances, including cypermethrin, cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, diflubenzuron, carbofuran and prochloraz, were identified. Additives contained high levels of benzoic acid, sulfur dioxide residue, sorbic acid, dehydroacetic acid (DHA) and nitrite, considered high-risk substances. Heavy metals, such as Cd, Pb, Hg and As, are high-risk substances. During production, cypermethrin, sulfur dioxide, sorbic acid, DHA, nitrite, Pb, Hg, As and Cd residues were determined as high-risk substances. From 2017 to 2021, the rate of unqualified edible fungi was 0.36%. High unqualified rates were mainly associated with the western, northeastern and southwestern regions of China, and these rates have been decreasing throughout the analysed time period. Moran’s I values of benzoic acid, sulfur dioxide residue, Cd, Pb, sorbic acid, DHA, Hg, As and chloroanisole in edible fungi were -0.060, -0.089, -0.027, 0.176, 0.089, -0.001 and 0.064, respectively. Chloroanisole exhibited a global spatial autocorrelation. Geographically, the unqualified rates of benzoic acid, Cd, Hg and As in fungi exhibited high-high aggregations, whereas the unqualified rates of sulfur dioxide residue and As exhibited low-low aggregations. The high risk associated with edible fungi was mainly owing to additives, pesticides and heavy metals. Edible fungi could benefit from reduced use of pesticides and additives as well as control of the amount of harmful metals. It is recommended to grow edible fungi in soils with low heavy metal content, use cultivation materials with low amounts of harmful metals and plant edible fungi in soils depleted of harmful metals.

Keywords: Edible fungi, the entropy method, risk classification, spatial autocorrelation analysis.