In vitro tests were performed to determine the ability of beer fermentation residue (BFR) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae to bind aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON). BFR
was obtained from a microbrewery, dried and ground, resulting in approximately 1.0 × 1010 S. cerevisiae cells g−1
BFR. Binding assays consisted of suspending BFR (100 mg) in 10 mL of buffer solution (pH 3.0 or 6.5) spiked with
AFB1, ZEA, OTA or DON (2.0 μg mL−1 of each mycotoxin), incubation (60 min, 25 °C) followed by centrifugation.
The supernatants were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. BFR had higher binding capacity
for ZEA (75.1% and 77.5% at pH 3.0 and 6.5, respectively), when compared with AFB1, OTA and DON (less than
60% and 40% at pH 3.0 and 6.5, respectively). BFR also produced linear isotherms for ZEA at both pH values,
hence indicating a potential application of industrial fermentation by-products containing yeast cells in reducing
the bioavailability of ZEA in contaminated feedstuffs. However, in vivo studies are required to prove its efficacy in
livestock and poultry.