An investigation for occurrence of Zearalenone (ZEN) and toxigenic fungi in cereals (Corn, 50 samples; rice 45 samples, and wheat, 40 samples) collected from Egypt. ZEN was detected in 15 of 50 corn samples with an average 22.32 ppb. The incidence value of ZEN in rice samples was of 8.9% (4 samples of 45), and the average was 15.5 ppb. Out of 40 wheat samples 5 samples were cantaminated with ZEN (12.5%) with an average 8.8 ppb. Seventy-nine Fusarium strains belonged to 9 different species were isolated
from Egyptian cereals, and tested for ZEN production, only twenty-six isolated were Zearalenone producer. Efficiency of H2O, for destruction of ZEN in contaminated corn was studied at different concentrations (3%, 5% and 10). The results revealed that percent of disappearance of ZEN was found to be dependent upon the concentration of H,O,, temperature and period of exposure. whereas the highest percent of degradation was 83.9%, with 10% H,O, at 80°C for 16 hr, followed by 75% at the same condition for 8 hr, while the lowest one obtained at 3% H2O2, 50°C for 2 hr.