Aflatoxin
Why in news?
- Studies across regions report widespread aflatoxin contamination in staple crops like maize with some samples above European regulatory limits, raising food safety concerns globally.
- Indonesia suspended imports of Indian groundnuts starting September 3, 2025, due to aflatoxin contamination concerns.
- In Pakistan, a study emphasized the urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies within the livestock feed supply chain.
Key Points:
- Aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic compounds produced by certain molds, primarily Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.
- Found in many crops and foodstuffs like maize, peanuts, nuts, cereals.
- Causes hepatotoxicity, cancer (especially hepatocellular carcinoma) and immune-suppression.
- Aflatoxin B1 are metabolized in the liver are the most toxic and carcinogenic.
- Exposure in animals can lead to contamination of meat, milk, and eggs.
- Children are especially vulnerable to effects like stunted growth.
- Control includes monitoring, avoiding contaminated feed, and using binders in animal feed (where allowed).
Aflatoxin Prevention
- Agricultural practices like pest control, choosing resistant crop varieties, proper irrigation, and elimination of infected crop debris to reduce fungal infection in the field.
- Postharvest practices such as thorough drying of crops before storage, sorting out moldy or damaged grains, maintaining moisture control, and preventing insect or rodent damage during storage.
- Dietary diversification and reducing consumption of high-risk foods like maize and groundnuts can also reduce exposure.
- Some biopesticides using non-toxic strains of Aspergillus competitively inhibit toxic strains.
- Community-level interventions focusing on education about drying and storage methods have shown significant reductions in aflatoxin levels in populations.
Conclusion
These developments reinforce ongoing risks from aflatoxin contamination affecting food security, trade, livestock health, and human public health. Efforts for control through monitoring, bio-pesticides, detoxification, and farmer education are being strongly advocated in the latest research and policy discussions.
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