mycotoxin contamination in tanzania: quantifying the problem in maize and cassava in households and...
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Presented by Fen Beed (IITA) at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Research Review and Planning Meeting, Arusha, Tanzania, 1-5 October 2012TRANSCRIPT
Mycotoxin contamination in Tanzania: Quantifying the problem in maize and cassava
in households and markets
Fen Beed (IITA)
Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Research Review and
Planning Meeting, Arusha, Tanzania, 1-5 October 2012
Mycotoxins - aflatoxin, Health & Trade
• Synergistic with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to cause liver cancer• 30 times more potent in HBV+
people• 5-60 times higher cancer risk
• Impairs growth and development of children
• Suppresses immune system • Impedes uptake and utilization of
micronutrients in human systems• Animal productivity reduced –
growth rate, embryo toxicity, feed efficiency, cancer, death……
• Highly toxic metabolite produced by the ubiquitous Aspergillus flavus fungus
• The fungus infects crops and produces the toxin in the field and in stores
• Fungus carried from field to store• Contamination possible without
visible signs of the fungus
• Some predisposing factors: – pre-harvest high temp and
drought stress– wet conditions at harvest
and post-harvest periods
– insect damage
Aflatoxin FactsAflatoxin Facts
Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Food & Feed
• 2.5 billion exposed worldwide
• Several African staple commodities affected
• High human exposure in Africa – mother to baby
• Levels and frequency of occurrence high• >30% maize in stores with >20 ppb aflatoxin
• ~90% stores are contaminated with Afla fungi
• Up to 40% grain in households with aflatoxin
• Concern for food and feed processors, government and emergency food reserve agencies
• Highly toxic strains, conducive environmental conditions, traditional farming methods and improper grain drying and storage practices, unregulated markets
Tanzania Surveys
1> determine prevalence of mycotoxins in maize and cassava
2> questionnaires field, processing, storage methods
3> increase awareness
4 > Link to PACA; collect isolates from maize & groundnut for characterisation of potential biocontrol agents and Abt Associates
MAFSC
TPRI& IITA
SUA
TFDA
Survey teams
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Samples milled, sub sampled, and for maize; pre-tested using serological methods for afaltoxin and fumonisin and sent along with all cassava
To IFA-TULLN for LC-MS/MS; state of the art detection capable of quantifying more than 50 toxic metabolites in a single analysis
Sample analyses
Working partnerships and trust established
Survey and analytical methods optimised
Awareness raised
Linkages between mycotoxin prevalence with region and farmer practices identified
Areas for targeted intervention identified
- suitable for scaling out to Africa Rising Action Sites
Summary
Thank you, Asante Sana!