Mycotoxin Regulatory Status in Africa: A Decade of Weak Institutional Efforts

Chilaka, Cynthia Adaku; Obidiegwu, Jude; Chilaka, Augusta Chinenye; Atanda, Olusegun; Mally, Angela

doi:10.3390/toxins14070442

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…By contrast, mycotoxins are a persistent and larger-scale issue in less-developed countries, where such contamination is poorly controlled, if it is controlled at all. This contamination can be especially problematic for those who grow and store their own food, typically in tropical and sub-tropical rain-fed systems with insufficient inputs, or who purchase food at an unregulated local market (Chilaka et al, 2022). In some cases, population exposure can be nearly universal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxin communications: Managing messages for different audiences

Leslie

Morris²,

Gurung³

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, and zearalenone, are increasing in visibility as a public health threat through both acute and chronic exposure in food. USAID through its Feed the Future program has sponsored research in Nepal on mycotoxin contamination and the correlated high levels of stunting in children under age five. Communicating about mycotoxins is a complicated matter, as is communicating about any potentially serious economic or health threat that may be difficult to control. Two nominal group workshops in Nepal focused on identifying problems from multiple perspectives and developing potential communication strategies to mitigate the problem and potential concerns about it. Target audiences were identified along with their interests and effective channels to communicate with and within them. The first audience to work with is the government, as it must understand and value the problem and help generate confidence in potential regulatory and mitigation processes. Producers, educators and health professionals are the next audiences to address as they are the most closely involved with the problem. Consumer engagement is last, with a communication goal of sharing information to heighten awareness and minimize unwarranted public concern.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxin communications: Managing messages for different audiences

Leslie

Morris²,

Gurung³

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…The problem of mycotoxins has been on the rise in Kenya and Uganda among other African countries that heavily consume maize and other cereal crops (Mutiga et al 2019;Chilaka et al 2022). For instance, in Kenya, an outbreak of a atoxin contamination in maize led to 125 human deaths through acute a atoxicosis in the year 2004 (Omara et al 2021;Chilaka et al 2022). This was reported as one of the utmost severe cases of mycotoxin contamination and poisoning in history, and the problem continues to exist (Obonyo and Salano 2018;Dharini et al 2022;Chilaka et al 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insecticides influence colonization and toxin accumulation by Aspergillus and Fusarium in orange and white maize flour varying in susceptibility to mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens

Ochieno

Nekesa

Naluyange

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species that contaminate cereal crops with aflatoxins and fumonisins are a major threat to food security, human and animal health. Cases of mycotoxin contamination have been on the rise globally, with causes of such surges raising research interests. We conducted factorial experiments in the laboratory to test the hypothesis that some recently produced improved maize varieties that are not purposively bred for resistance to storage insect pests and mycotoxigenic fungi, require protection by synthetic insecticides, which in turn serve as nutrient sources to mycotoxigenic fungi, leading to invasive growth and enhanced toxin production by fungi, especially in conditions of high moisture. Flour from the improved white maize variety Western 505 that is not purposively bred for resistance to storage insect pests and mycotoxigenic fungi had the highest level of colonisation by A. flavus (6,633 CFU g-1) and Fusarium sp. (10,870 CFU g-1) with consequent elevated concentrations of aflatoxin (203 ppb) and fumonisin (2.23 ppm); while flour from the local yellow maize variety Spindi exhibited the least colonisation and mycotoxin production by A. flavus (4,133 CFU g-1) and Fusarium sp. (6,145 CFU g-1) with the local white Rachar being intermediate, at high moisture conditions. The synthetic insecticides Super Blue Cross (BC) and Actellic Super (AS) promoted growth and mycotoxin production by A. flavus and Fusarium sp.; while Ash promoted growth of A. flavus and Fusarium sp., but suppressed mycotoxin production by the two mycotoxigenic fungi (Aflatoxin and Fumonisin: control=114 ppb and 1.46 ppm; Ash=114 ppb and 1.46 ppm; AS=270 ppb and 2.31 ppm; BC=320 ppb and 3.55 ppm). It is concluded that flours from the local yellow Spindi and local white Rachar maize varieties are less susceptible to infection and mycotoxin contamination by A. flavus and Fusarium sp. compared to the improved white maize variety WH505, which accumulates higher levels of the mycotoxigenic fungi and their toxins, especially when treated with the synthetic insecticides Super Blue Cross and Actellic® Super that act as fungal nutrient sources under high moisture conditions. The implications of these findings are further discussed in the context of some relevant policies.

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“…This has resulted in the establishment and enforcement of stringent regulations, especially in developed countries (Cheli et al, 2014). Similar regulations exist in various developing countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi; however, these are not properly enforced and, therefore, populations are chronically exposed to the toxins (Matumba et al, 2017;Chilaka et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxin biocontrol effectiveness in the real world—Private sector-led efforts to manage aflatoxins in Nigeria through biocontrol-centered strategies

Ola¹,

Ogedengbe²,

Raji³

et al. 2022

Front. Microbiol.

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Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by several Aspergillus species that contaminate various crops. The impact of aflatoxin on the health of humans and livestock is a concern across the globe. Income, trade, and development sectors are affected as well. There are several technologies to prevent aflatoxin contamination but there are difficulties in having farmers use them. In Nigeria, an aflatoxin biocontrol product containing atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus has been registered with regulatory authorities and is now being produced at scale by the private company Harvestfield Industries Limited (HIL). The current study reports results of biocontrol effectiveness trials in maize conducted by HIL during 2020 in several locations across Nigeria and compared to untreated maize from nearby locations. Also, maize was collected from open markets to assess levels of contamination. All treated maize met tolerance thresholds (i.e., <4 ppb total aflatoxin). In contrast, most maize from untreated fields had a higher risk of aflatoxin contamination, with some areas averaging 38.5 ppb total aflatoxin. Maize from open markets had aflatoxin above tolerance thresholds with even an average of up to 90.3 ppb. Results from the trials were presented in a National Workshop attended by key officers of Government agencies, farmer organizations, the private sector, NGOs, and donors. Overall, we report (i) efforts spearheaded by the private sector to have aflatoxin management strategies used at scale in Nigeria, and (ii) deliberations of key stakeholders to ensure the safety of crops produced in Nigeria for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and industries.

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Mycotoxin Regulatory Status in Africa: A Decade of Weak Institutional Efforts

Cited by 29 publications

References 58 publications

Mycotoxin communications: Managing messages for different audiences

Mycotoxin communications: Managing messages for different audiences

Insecticides influence colonization and toxin accumulation by Aspergillus and Fusarium in orange and white maize flour varying in susceptibility to mycotoxigenic fungal pathogens

Aflatoxin biocontrol effectiveness in the real world—Private sector-led efforts to manage aflatoxins in Nigeria through biocontrol-centered strategies

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