Aflatoxins in Eastern Africa

11 August 2016. This special issue of AJFAND is a contribution to better understanding several aspects of the multi-faceted problem of aflatoxins, focused on East Africa. The objectives of the research reported can be broadly categorized as: 

1. Understanding the health consequences of aflatoxins 
2. Characterizing the extent of the problem 
3. Identifying key elements to underpin the way forward to mitigation In terms of understanding the health consequences, there are still critical knowledge gaps to be addressed. 

Aflatoxins have been recognized as an important food and feed safety issue since the 1960s because of their direct harmful effects on human and animal health, and indirect effects on trade, economies and livelihoods as the result of product rejection. Consumption of high amounts of aflatoxins can result in acute poisoning and death in people and animals. The best-studied human health impact is liver cancer resulting from long-term exposure.

 

There are 12 peer reviewed scientific articles in this Special Issue. The main corresponding author for the issue is Dr. Johanna Lindahl. We hope the information herein can be shared as widely as possible amongst researchers, policy makers, practitioners and consumers

• Editorial: Johanna Lindahl, Delia Grace, Jagger Harvey and Erastus Kang’ethe Aflatoxins in East Africa: The importance of getting the full picture

1. Assessing the impact of aflatoxin consumption on animal health and productivity. Christine Atherstone et al.  [Uganda]
2. Aflatoxin exposure among young children in urban low-income areas of Nairobi and association with child growth. Gideon M Kiarie et al. [Kenya]
3. Aflatoxin B1 occurrence in millet, sorghum and maize from four agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Anima Sirma et al. [Kenya]
4. Prevalence of aflatoxin in feeds and cow milk from five counties in Kenya. Daniel Senerwa et al. [Kenya]
5. Survey of informal milk retailers in Nairobi, Kenya and prevalence of aflatoxin M1 in marketed milk. Yumi Kirino et al. [Japan]
6. Assessment of pre-harvest aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in Babati District, Tanzania. Chacha Nyangi et al. [Tanzania]
7. Aflatoxins and fumonisin contamination of marketed maize, maize bran and maize used as animal feed in Northern Tanzania. Chacha Nyangi et al. [Tanzania]
8. Mapping aflatoxin risk from milk consumption using biophysical and socio-economic data: A case study of Kenya. Pamela Ochungo et al. [Kenya]
9. Examining environmental drivers of spatial variability in aflatoxin accumulation in Kenyan maize: Potential utility in risk prediction models. Laura Smith et al. [USA]
10. Kenya dairy farmer perception of moulds and mycotoxins and implications for exposure to aflatoxins: A gendered analysis. Teresa Kiama et al. [Kenya]
11. A review of agricultural aflatoxin management strategies and emerging innovations in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethel O Monda and AE Alakonya [Kenya]
12. Potential of lactic acid fermentation in reducing aflatoxin B1 in Tanzania maize-based gruel. Frida Nyamete et al. [Tanzania]