Preventing Aflatoxin Poisoning

Aflatoxins can cause severe liver damage and may result in death, says Dr Mac. As such, proper feed storage is crucial.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has recently been distributing rapid tests for analysis of cereals and grains used for human and animal consumption in developing countries to detect aflatoxins. It is a simple test that can be used at farm level, and is reportedly being supplied to small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins that are produced by two fungi, namely Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which grow on groundnuts, maize, tree nuts, soya bean and other plant-derived ingredients in animal feeds.

Aflatoxin B1 is a powerful hepatocarcinogen and is known to cause liver cancer in children. As such, it is strictly monitored in human food.