ergotcontaminated
Ergot contaminated refers to food or feed that has been tainted with ergot alkaloids. Ergot is a disease that affects cereal crops, particularly rye, wheat, and barley, caused by a fungus called Claviceps purpurea. The fungus produces dark, hard structures called sclerotia, which replace the grains. These sclerotia contain a variety of toxic alkaloids.
When ergot-contaminated grains are consumed by humans or livestock, it can lead to a condition known as
Historically, ergotism was a significant public health problem, particularly in regions where rye was a staple