Baby Safety / Compounds / Fumonisin B2 (FB2)

Is Fumonisin B2 (FB2) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Fumonisin B2 (FB2) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is fumonisin b2 (fb2)?

The IUPAC name is (2R)-2-[2-[(5R,6R,7S,9S,16R,18S,19S)-19-amino-6-[(3R)-3,4-dicarboxybutanoyl]oxy-16,18-dihydroxy-5,9-dimethylicosan-7-yl]oxy-2-oxoethyl]butanedioic acid.

Also known as: (2R)-2-[2-[(5R,6R,7S,9S,16R,18S,19S)-19-amino-6-[(3R)-3,4-dicarboxybutanoyl]oxy-16,18-dihydroxy-5,9-dimethylicosan-7-yl]oxy-2-oxoethyl]butanedioic acid, fumonisin b2, fumonisin-B2, UX4WHT4MKB.

IUPAC name
(2R)-2-[2-[(5R,6R,7S,9S,16R,18S,19S)-19-amino-6-[(3R)-3,4-dicarboxybutanoyl]oxy-16,18-dihydroxy-5,9-dimethylicosan-7-yl]oxy-2-oxoethyl]butanedioic acid
CAS number
116355-84-1
Molecular formula
C34H59NO14
Molecular weight
705.8 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCC(C)C(C(CC(C)CCCCCCC(CC(C(C)N)O)O)OC(=O)CC(CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)OC(=O)CC(CC(=O)O)C(=O)O
PubChem CID
2733489

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Fumonisin B2 (FB2) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Fumonisin B2 (FB2), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Fumonisin B2 (FB2).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2002IARC Group 2B — Possibly carcinogenic to humans — Fumonisin B2 (FB2; CAS 116355-84-1) is classified IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans; IARC Monographs Volume 82, 2002) as part of the overall fumonisins classification alongside FB1; FB2 is the second most abundant fumonisin produced by Fusarium verticillioides (F. moniliforme) and Fusarium proliferatum in maize; FB2 differs from FB1 only by the absence of the 10-OH hydroxyl group (FB1 has the hydroxyl at C-10; FB2 lacks it — it is a 10-dehydroxy-FB1); because FB2 and FB1 share the same fundamental structure (both are sphinganine analogs with the tricarballylic acid ester side chains), FB2 inhibits ceramide synthase by the same mechanism as FB1, with similar potency; the regulatory framework treats fumonisins as a group — all European, Codex, and JECFA limits apply to the sum of FB1 + FB2 + FB3 (and sometimes additional analogs), with FB1 typically representing 60-75% of total fumonisin content in maize, FB2 representing 15-25%, and FB3 < 10%; the EFSA TDI of 1 µg/kg body weight per day applies to the sum of fumonisin B1, B2, and B3 (EFSA 2005); the same EU maximum levels apply: unprocessed maize 4,000 µg/kg; maize-based food for human consumption 1,000 µg/kg; maize-based food for infants and young children 200 µg/kg — all expressed as sum of FB1+FB2+FB3

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter fumonisin b2 (fb2)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Fumonisin B2 (FB2):

  • Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
    Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is fumonisin b2 (fb2) safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Fumonisin B2 (FB2) than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain fumonisin b2 (fb2)?

Fumonisin B2 (FB2) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to fumonisin b2 (fb2)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Fumonisin B2 (FB2) in the baby app

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Sources (1)
  1. Fumonisin B2 FB2 CAS 116355-84-1 C34H59NO14 IARC Group 2B Monograph 82 2002; 10-Dehydroxy-FB1 Structural Analog Sphinganine Ceramide Synthase CERS Inhibition Same Mechanism FB1; FB1:FB2:FB3 Ratio 60-70:20-25:5-10% Co-Occurrence Maize Fusarium verticillioides proliferatum; EFSA 2005 TDI 1 µg/kg bw/day Sum FB1+FB2+FB3; EU 1881/2006 Unprocessed Maize 4000 µg/kg Sum Fumonisins; Sa/So Ratio Biomarker Total Fumonisin Exposure; Nixtamalization Alkaline Hydrolysis Tricarballylic Ester 50-90% HFB2 Reduction; LC-MS/MS ELISA OPA Fluorescence Derivatization HPLC Detection; ELEM PPE Veterinary Disease Combined FB1+FB2 Natural Exposure; Maillard N-Carboxymethyl-FB2 Heat Masking (2002) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →