Cold Plasma for Mycotoxin Mitigation in Cereals and Pseudocereals: Mechanisms, Safety, and Processing Aspects

Cereals and pseudocereals such as quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, oats, sorghum, and chia are valued for their high nutritional quality and gluten-free potential but remain susceptible to fungal contamination and mycotoxin accumulation, posing notable food safety concerns. Conventional decontamination methods are often limited in effectiveness or risk compromising quality. Cold plasma (CP), a novel nonthermal and eco-friendly technology, has recently gained attention for microbial inactivation and toxin control in grains and seeds. This review primarily focuses on pseudocereals (quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, chia, and related grains) while drawing comparative insights from major cereals and their by-products to contextualize cold plasma (CP) mechanisms and performance. Factors influencing efficacy, including grain morphology, moisture, plasma conditions, and storage stability, are discussed for safety, regulatory, and market perspectives. Recent investigations indicate that CP effectively mitigates fungal contamination in pseudocereals while enhancing seed germination and hydration properties. The treatment’s efficacy, attributed to the activity of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that disrupt fungal cell structures and modify toxin molecules, is influenced by plasma operating conditions and grain surface morphology. This review compares CP effects among cereals, nuts, and pseudocereals, elucidates its impact on functional quality, and outlines future research priorities for safe and effective pseudocereal processing.