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

Food safety problems are a major hindrance to achieving food security, trade, and healthy living in Africa. Fungi and their secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins, represent an important concern in this regard. Attempts such as agricultural, storage, and processing practices, and creation of awareness to tackle the menace of fungi and mycotoxins have yielded measurable outcomes especially in developed countries, where there are comprehensive mycotoxin legislations and enforcement schemes.

Fate of Fusarium mycotoxins during processing of Nigerian traditional infant foods (ogi and soybean powder).

The influence of processing methods used to produce traditional Nigerian infant foods (ogi and processed soybean powder) on four European Union regulated Fusarium mycotoxins using naturally and artificially contaminated raw materials was studied using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Generally, there was a significant reduction of all the mycotoxins when compared to the initial concentration of the raw materials. Reduction in concentrations of the mycotoxins during ogi-processing started immediately after 36 h' steeping/fermentation for all the mycotoxins (fumonisin B, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin), and proceeded along the process chain (milling and sieving).

A polyphasic method for the identification of aflatoxigenic Aspergilla from cashew nuts.

The invasion of food by toxigenic fungi is a threat to public health. This study aimed at enumerating the microbial profile, detection of aflatoxin producing genes and quantification of the levels of aflatoxin contamination of cashew nuts meant for human consumption. A polyphasic method of analysis using newly formulated β-Cyclodextrin Neutral Red Desiccated coconut agar (β-CDNRDCA) and Yeast Extract Sucrose agar (YES) with Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method was adopted in determining the aflatoxigenic potential of the isolates, the presence of aflatoxin biosynthetic gene (aflM, aflD, aflR, aflJ omt-A) and estimation of the total aflatoxin content of the nuts.

Microbiological Quality and Risk Assessment for Aflatoxins in Groundnuts and Roasted Cashew Nuts Meant for Human Consumption.

Nuts are one of the commonly consumed snacks but poor handling and storage practices can make them prone to foodborne infections. The study aimed at assessing the microbiological quality and risk assessment for aflatoxins in groundnuts and cashew nuts consumed in selected locations in Nigeria. The moisture content, colony counts, incidence of pathogenic bacteria, aflatoxin contamination, and risk assessment for aflatoxins were evaluated using standard methods.

Stability of fumonisin B, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin during processing of traditional Nigerian beer and spices.

The stability of the Fusarium mycotoxins fumonisin B, deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, and zearalenone during processing of Nigerian traditional spices (dawadawa, okpehe, and ogiri) and beer (burukutu) using artificially contaminated raw materials was investigated. Results revealed the reduction of these toxins in all the final products. Boiling played a significant role (p < 0.

Risk Assessment of Mycotoxins in Stored Maize Grains Consumed by Infants and Young Children in Nigeria.

Maize is a major complimentary food for infants (0-4years) and young children (5-12years) in Nigeria. In this study, we assessed the risk of exposure of infants and young children (IYC) to some major mycotoxins in stored maize grains from five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. The probable daily intake approach was employed to determine exposure to five mycotoxins while the margin of exposure (MOE) and population at risk of primary hepatocellular carcinoma approaches were used to characterize the risk of consuming aflatoxin contaminated maize.

Mycotoxin risk assessment for consumers of groundnut in domestic markets in Nigeria.

The fungal and multi-mycotoxin profiles of groundnuts sold in domestic markets in Nigeria as well as the associated risk to consumers were assessed in the present study. Four hundred fungal isolates representing mainly Aspergillus [58.6%: Aspergillus section Flavi (37.

The Status of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Emerging Trends and Post-Harvest Mitigation Strategies towards Food Control.

fungi are common plant pathogens causing several plant diseases. The presence of these molds in plants exposes crops to toxic secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. The most studied mycotoxins include fumonisins, zearalenone, and trichothecenes.

Occurrence of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Cereal Crops and Processed Products (Ogi) from Nigeria.

In Nigeria, maize, sorghum, and millet are very important cash crops. They are consumed on a daily basis in different processed forms in diverse cultural backgrounds. These crops are prone to fungi infestation, and subsequently may be contaminated with mycotoxins.

Fungal isolates and metabolites in locally processed rice from five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.

This study reports the distribution of fungal isolates and fungal metabolites that naturally contaminate locally processed rice from five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. The fungal species were isolated by the dilution plate technique and identified by appropriate diagnostics, while metabolites were determined by a liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric method. Aspergillus and Penicillium species were the predominant isolates found in the rice samples while Fusarium spp.

The incidence and distribution of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat vegetables in South-Western Nigeria.

The study investigated the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables: (Cucumber, Cucumis sativas; Cabbage, Brassica olerecea; Carrot, Daucus carota; Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum; Lettuce, Lactuca sativa) in six states in South-Western Nigeria. A total of 555 composite samples were collected from 30 traditional markets within the states and only 244 L. monocytogenes species were isolated by standard methods.

Fungal and bacterial metabolites associated with natural contamination of locally processed rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Nigeria.

This study reports the fungal and bacterial metabolites associated with natural contamination of 38 composite samples of locally processed rice from five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria (AEZs). The samples were evaluated for the presence of microbial metabolites by LC-MS/MS. Among the identified metabolites, 63 fungal and 5 bacterial metabolites were measured at varying concentrations and occurrence levels.

Fungal and bacterial metabolites of stored maize (Zea mays, L.) from five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.

Seventy composite samples of maize grains stored in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Nigeria where maize is predominantly produced were evaluated for the presence of microbial metabolites with the LC-MS/MS technique. The possible relationships between the storage structures and levels of mycotoxin contamination were also evaluated. Sixty-two fungal and four bacterial metabolites were extracted from the grains, 54 of which have not been documented for maize in Nigeria.

Correlation between aflatoxin M1 content of breast milk, dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1 and socioeconomic status of lactating mothers in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Aflatoxin M1 (AF M1), a hydroxylated metabolite of AF B1, is an important toxin that can contaminate the milk of lactating mothers. A correlation study was conducted to determine the relationship between AF M1 content of breast milk, dietary exposure to AF B1 and socioeconomic status of lactating mothers in the three Senatorial districts of Ogun State, Nigeria. Equal amounts of breast milk (20 ml) and food rations (40 kg) obtained from 50 volunteer lactating mothers and eighty-two frequently consumed food commodities in the preceding month were used for the study.

Aflatoxin M1 contamination of milk and ice cream in Abeokuta and Odeda local governments of Ogun State, Nigeria.

A survey was undertaken to determine the aflatoxin M(1) contamination of milk and some locally produced dairy products in Abeokuta and Odeda local governments of Ogun State, Nigeria. Samples of human and cow milk, yoghurt, "wara", ice cream and "nono" were collected randomly within the local governments and analysed for aflatoxin M(1) using the two-dimensional TLC. Aflatoxin M(1) contamination in the range of 2.