Abstract
Aflatoxicosis is a public health problem in Nigeria like other tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Control of aflatoxin contamination requires thorough risk assessment, monitoring, quality control and empirical data. This study assayed total aflatoxin levels, identified and quantified four aflatoxin types in five food commodities commonly consumed in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The food materials: <em>Zea mays, Colocynthis citrullus, Capsicum frutescens, Irvingia gabonensis</em> and <em>Arachis hypogea</em> were obtained from Watt market in Calabar urban. ELISA method was used for total aflatoxin, HPLC for aflatoxin types, AOAC for moisture. All (100%) the samples were contaminated with aflatoxin. Contamination was highest in<em> Irvingia gabonensis</em> (63.40 ± 1.79 µg/kg) and least in <em>Zea mays</em> (3.20 ± 0.12 µg/kg) (p &lt; 0.05). Except for <em>Irvingia gabonensis</em> and <em>Colocynthis citrullus</em>, total aflatoxin was within safe intake level of the Nigerian regulatory authority (National Agency for Food and Drug Adminstration and Control {NAFDAC}). All four aflatoxin types occurred in <em>Irvingia gabonensis</em>, <em>Capsicum frutescens</em> and <em>Colocynthis citrullus</em>; none was detected in <em>Arachis hypogea</em>. AFB<sub>1</sub> contamination was highest in<em> Irvingia gabonensis</em> (11.71±0.10 µg/kg) followed by <em>Capsicum frutescens</em> (1.21 ± 0.01 µg/kg); AFB<sub>2</sub> ranged from 0.00 ± 0.00-2.43 ± 0.05 µg/kg, AFG<sub>1 </sub>0.00 ± 0.00-3.73 ± 0.04 µg/kg, and AFG<sub>2</sub> 0.00 ± 0.00-0.54 ± 0.01 µg/kg (p &lt; 0.05). Only<em> Irvingia gabonensis</em> exceeded the limit of AFB<sub>1</sub> specified by NAFDAC for human foods. Moisture content varied widely (3.23 ± 0.03%-10.37 ± 0.19%).<strong> </strong>The trend in the occurrence of aflatoxins in the food samples was directly proportional (r = 0.91) to their moisture contents. Food<strong> </strong>commodities sold in Calabar carry potential health hazard. Improved handling through food processing, preservation and storage can minimize aflatoxins in foodstuffs and ensure sustainable quality of food supply.
Highlights
The safety of food and feed has been a major concern of nations especially in recent years as more knowledge is gathered on the occurrence of natural toxins in food stuffs, fertilizers, animal feed and edible plant materials
All four aflatoxin types occurred in Irvingia gabonensis, Capsicum frutescens and Colocynthis citrullus; none was detected in Arachis hypogea
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination was highest in Irvingia gabonensis (11.71±0.10 μg/kg) followed by Capsicum frutescens (1.21 ± 0.01 μg/kg); AFB2 ranged from 0.00 ± 0.00-2.43 ± 0.05 μg/kg, AFG1 0.00 ± 0.00-3.73 ± 0.04 μg/kg, and AFG2 0.00 ± 0.00-0.54 ± 0.01 μg/kg (p < 0.05)
Summary
The safety of food and feed has been a major concern of nations especially in recent years as more knowledge is gathered on the occurrence of natural toxins in food stuffs, fertilizers, animal feed and edible plant materials. Occurring toxins have been characterized by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) as significant sources of food borne illnesses. Of the natural food toxins, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has estimated that mycotoxins (fungal toxins) alone contaminate about 25% of agricultural products worldwide resulting in huge losses for farmers (Smith, Solomons, Lewis, & Anderson, 1994; Wu, 2007). Out of the about 300 mycotoxins so far known, aflatoxin is the most studied, because of its common occurrence, high potency and toxicity to man and animals (SP-IPM, 2009). Other health effects of aflatoxins in animals and humans include www.ccsenet.org/jfr
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