Abstract
Aside from specific environmental conditions, poor agricultural practices contribute to mold and thus the mycotoxin contamination of crops. This study investigated Bangladeshi farming households’ (i) awareness of and experience with mold contamination of food crops; (ii) knowledge and awareness of the timing, causes, and consequences of mold and mycotoxin contamination; and (iii) knowledge of the recommended agricultural practices for controlling and preventing mold contamination of food crops. A survey was conducted with 1280 households in rural areas of Habiganj district, Bangladesh. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated, and mixed-effects linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between household characteristics and overall knowledge scores. The awareness of mold contamination of food crops was very high (99%; 95% CI: 98–100%) and a shared experience among households (85%; 95% CI: 80–88%). Yet, the majority (80%; 95% CI: 76–84%) demonstrated a low level of knowledge of the timing, causes, and preventive practices regarding mold contamination of crops. Knowledge scores were similar over demographic groups and better for households with more arable land. The findings suggest a generally insufficient knowledge of the conditions that favor mold contamination and the measures for preventing mold contamination of food crops. These findings underline the need for tailored interventions to promote good agricultural practices and reduce mold contamination of food crops.
Highlights
Mold contamination of food crops is widespread and constitutes a leading global food safety concern [1]
Mycotoxin occurrence at levels above European Union and Codex limits is estimated to affect around 20% of food crops globally, while the occurrence above detectable levels ranges between 60% and 80% [12]
In most low-income settings where mycotoxin exposure is prevalent, the knowledge, awareness, and practice of rural subsistence farmers’ regarding mold contamination of food crops remains poorly studied. This survey was conducted among rural Bangladeshi farming households to (i) determine their level of awareness and experience with mold contamination of food crops (ii) and to assess their knowledge of the contamination conditions and harmful effects of mold contamination, as well as (iii) their knowledge of the recommended agricultural practices for controlling and preventing mold contamination of food crops
Summary
Mold contamination of food crops is widespread and constitutes a leading global food safety concern [1]. The growth and metabolism of mold does result in agricultural and economic losses through food spoilage and has severe consequences for both human and animal health through associated mycotoxin production [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Mycotoxins refer to a diverse group of chemical compounds produced as secondary metabolites of mold, which are toxic to humans and animals in low concentrations [10,11]. Mycotoxins are resistant to several processing and cooking practices [13,14]. They are a ubiquitous exposure risk, especially in low-income settings, where populations eat monotonous diets of frequently contaminated staple crops [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International journal of environmental research and public health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
