Workgroup report: public health strategies for reducing aflatoxin exposure in developing countries.

Consecutive outbreaks of acute aflatoxicosis in Kenya in 2004 and 2005 caused > 150 deaths. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization convened a workgroup of international experts and health officials in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2005. After discussions concerning what is known about aflatoxins, the workgroup identified gaps in current knowledge about acute and chronic human health effects of aflatoxins, surveillance and food monitoring, analytic methods, and the efficacy of intervention strategies.

The risk assessment paradigm and its application for trichothecenes.

Risk analysis for trichothecene mycotoxins and other food contaminants, which are to a significant extent unavoidable, presents considerable challenges. Risk assessment is constrained by uncertainties associated with the lack of adequate data, and risk management must consider the fact that mycotoxin contamination can have serious impacts on trade and food sufficiency. These factors necessitate good communication between the risk assessors and risk managers in formulating the questions to be addressed by the risk assessment.

Examination of Imported Cheeses for Aflatoxin M.

A total of 118 imported cheeses from 13 countries were analyzed for aflatoxin M. Six were very hard types that included Parmesan, Romano and Sapsago; 74 were hard types that included Swiss and Cheddar; and 38 were soft or semisoft types, mainly Camembert and cheese spreads. Eight (6.