Abstract
The role of mycotoxins—e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, tremorgenic toxins, and ergot alkaloids—has been recognized in the etiology of a number of diseases. In many African countries, the public health impact of chronic (indoor) and/or repeated (dietary) mycotoxin exposure is largely ignored hitherto, with impact on human health, food security, and export of African agricultural food products. Notwithstanding, African scientific research reached milestones that, when linked to findings gained by the international scientific community, make the design and implementation of science-driven governance schemes feasible. Starting from Nigeria as leading African Country, this article (i) overviews available data on mycotoxins exposure in Africa; (ii) discusses new food safety issues, such as the environment–feed–food chain and toxic exposures of food producing animals in risk assessment and management; (iii) identifies milestones for mycotoxins risk management already reached in West Africa; and (iv) points out preliminary operationalization aspects for shielding communities from direct (on health) and indirect (on trade, economies, and livelihoods) effects of mycotoxins. An African science-driven engaging of scientific knowledge by development actors is expected therefore. In particular, One health/One prevention is suggested, as it proved to be a strategic and sustainable development framework.
Highlights
The role of mycotoxins—e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, fumonisins, tremorgenic toxins, and ergot alkaloids—has been recognized in the etiology of a number of diseases
Starting from Nigeria as leading African Country, this article (i) overviews available data on mycotoxins exposure in Africa; (ii) discusses new food safety issues, such as the environment–feed–food chain and toxic exposures of food producing animals in risk assessment and management; (iii) identifies milestones for mycotoxins risk management already reached in West Africa; and (iv) points out preliminary operationalization aspects for shielding communities from direct and indirect effects of mycotoxins
In a survey of mycotoxins in traditional maize based opaque beers in Malawi, it was estimated that consumption of 1.0–6.0 L of this local beverage results in a daily FB1 and FB2 exposure of 29–174 μg/kg body weight/day [i.e., >provisional maximum daily intake of 2 μg/g bw/day set by the Joint FAO/ WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)] and AF exposure of 1.5–9.0 μg/kg bw/day for a 60 kg adult [103]
Summary
Examples of mycotoxins of greatest public health and agro-economic significance include AFs, ochratoxins (OTs), trichothecenes (TCTs), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (Fs), tremorgenic toxins, and ergot alkaloids [17,18,19]. US food safety regulations include a limit of 20 ng/g for total AFs (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in all foods except milk and a limit of 0.5 ng/g for AFM1 in milk. AFB1 contamination of feeds is a risk for the health of several farm animals, including fishes; milk is the only food of animal origin where a significant feed–food carryover may occur. The changing climate may increase the burden of mycotoxins contamination of feeds and foods globally and affect livestock production in terms of both food safety and security [24].
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