Ochratoxins are fungal metabolites that are present in a wide variety of foods and their byproducts. Nephrotoxicity is its main toxic effect, related in turn to different clinical syndromes such as tubular necrosis or Balkan nephropathy. The information that is known about these substances comes from case reports, animal trials or in vitro experimental studies. This document offers an overview of ochratoxins, toxic mechanism, nephrotoxic effect, and a panorama of their current regulation in Colombia.