Abstract
Omena (Rastrineobola argentea) is the most consumed fish species in Kenya. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Omena and the potential health risk of AFB1 to Kenyan consumers of this fish. A total of 74 samples comprising Omena intended for human consumption and fish feed production were analyzed in this study. Aflatoxin levels in Omena were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Omena intended for fish feed production was most contaminated with a mean concentration of 46.93 μg·kg−1 (2.24–115.23 μg·kg−1) compared with Omena intended for human consumption (mean = 19.42 μg·kg−1, range = 2.01–49.30 μg·kg−1). Thirty-five positive samples (83.3%) exceeded the maximum level permitted (5 μg·kg−1) by the East Africa Community standard for food used for human consumption. The exposure dose of AFB1 from consuming Omena was estimated to be 1.34 ng·kg−1 BW day−1, and margin of exposure (MoE) value for AFB1 was found to be 126.3, which indicates health risk to Omena consumers. The results suggest that the current situation of aflatoxin contamination in Omena has an adverse effect on the health of the consumers as well as the animals. Therefore, more surveys are needed to understand the scope and extent of aflatoxin contamination in Omena.
Highlights
Fish is an important part of nutrition, contributing on average 22% of animal protein intake in the East and Central African regions [1]
Omena used as fish feed ingredients (n 32) were collected from sixteen farmers who processed their own feed at the farm level from the County
Coefficients of variation of interplate and intraplate ranged between 9.07% and 12.71% and between 1.01% and 2.58%, respectively (Table 1). e recovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from all spiked samples was 92% to 109% (Table 1). ese results were in accordance with the European Commission (EC) Regulation No 401/2006 that establishes recoveries in the range of 70–110% and 50–120%
Summary
Fish is an important part of nutrition, contributing on average 22% of animal protein intake in the East and Central African regions [1]. E most common fish species consumed in Kenya are tilapia and Rastrineobola argentea (locally known as “Omena” or “Dagaa”). Other species include Nile perch (locally known as “Mbuta”) and catfish [1]. According to the FAO [3], the production of Omena, tilapia, Nile perch, and catfish in Kenya was 69,561, 47,555, 43,399, and 11,398, respectively, in 2016. Omena is the most important small fish species that contributes immensely to the protein needs of the poor people [5], accounting for 35% of the country’s total fish human consumption. Is practice results in pathogenic contamination of fish products, such as sun-dried Omena, and smoked catfish by fungi [6,7,8]. Over an extended period of time, these pathogenic fungi can multiply and their metabolites cause changes in the feed and food quality that can adversely affect the health of animals and humans [9]
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