Prevention Of Mycotoxin Contamination Research Articles

Food Security and Foodborne Mycotoxicoses-What Should Be the Adequate Risk Assessment and Regulation?

The purpose of this review is to elucidate the actual threat of the most prevalent mycotoxins in agricultural commodities and human/animal food/feed for the induction of foodborne diseases or ailments. The underestimated hazard of combined mycotoxin uptake by animals or humans is critically discussed with regard to synergistic or additive interaction between some target mycotoxins. The real toxicity of target mycotoxin combinations as it happens in practice is evaluated and possible lower limit values or control measures are suggested in such cases. Some critical points on adequate risk assessment, hygiene control, and regulation of mycotoxins are discussed. The efficiency of current mycotoxin regulations and control measures is evaluated in regard to human/animal health hazards. The risk assessment in the case of multiple mycotoxin exposure of humans/animals via food/feed or agricultural commodities is evaluated and some suggestions are proposed in such cases. Appropriate control measures and food safety issues throughout the food supply chain are proposed in order to prevent the target foodborne diseases. Some preventive measures and possible veterinary hygiene controls or risk evaluations are proposed in some natural cases of foodborne diseases for preventing mycotoxin contamination of animal products designed for human consumption and to avoid possible public health issues.

Assessment of total aflatoxin and ochratoxin A in poultry feed ingredients by thin-layer chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of total aflatoxin (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feed ingredients under different environmental conditions during the summer and winter seasons, while the hygiene quality of the feed ingredient was assessed through viable fungal count (VFC). A total of 288 poultry feed ingredients (n = 96 each) samples were collected from different poultry shops, which were initially analyzed for the presence of AF and OTA through thin layer chromatography (TLC) and then confirmed the contamination concentration through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The results of the current study confirmed the incidence of contamination with AF and OTA by TLC and ELISA methods. The contamination level of AF ranged from 26.09 to 50.56 (mean = 41.22 ± 9.45) μg/kg, whereas the contamination level of OTA ranged from 50.13 to 6.21 (mean 42.60 ± 6.21) μg/kg. The contamination level of AF was found to be above the permissible level set by the Food and Drug Administration (20 μg/kg), whereas the contamination level of OTA was below the permissible limits. Moreover, the VFC values were also below the recommended level. The results showed that the association between AF, OTA, and moisture content was significant (p < 0.05). Mycotoxin contamination was significantly (p < 0.05) highest in the winter season. These findings suggested that continuous monitoring regimes might prevent mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed ingredients.

NIR-HSI as a tool to predict deoxynivalenol and fumonisins in maize kernels: a step forward in preventing mycotoxin contamination.

Maize is frequently contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2). In the European Union, these mycotoxins are regulated in maize and maize-derived products. To comply with these regulations, industries require a fast, economic, safe, non-destructive and environmentally friendly analysis method. In the present study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) was used to develop regression and classification models for DON, FB1 and FB2 in maize kernels. The best regression models presented the following root mean square error of cross validation and ratio of performance to deviation values: 0.848 mg kg-1 and 2.344 (DON), 3.714 mg kg-1 and 2.018 (FB1) and 2.104 mg kg-1 and 2.301 (FB2). Regarding classification, European Union legal limits for DON and FB1 + FB2 were selected as thresholds to classify maize kernels as acceptable or not. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.778 and 1 for the best DON classification model and 0.607 and 0.938 for the best FB1 + FB2 classification model. NIR-HSI can help reduce DON and fumonisins contamination in the maize food and feed chain. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 by Aqueous extract from Green Cardamom

Aflatoxin B1 is a secondary metabolite produced by Aspergillus section Flavi during their development, is one of the most dangerous mycotoxins identified to date, that may contaminate many commodities, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Aflatoxin B1 is believed to be the most essential member of this family of mycotoxins, due to its carcinogenic properties in humans and animals. However, there are many strategies to prevent mycotoxin contamination in which some of them are based on the use of natural compounds that may able to minimize the toxin synthesis pathways. Aims: The current work aimed to identify specific compounds from Green Cardamom that expected to interfere with aflatoxin production pathway. Methodology: The adapted method was based on the incubation of fungal culture with different concentrations of the aqueous extraction of Green Cardamom. Results: The aqueous extract of Green Cardamom was able to inhibit Fungal growth and Aflatoxin B1 production by the toxigenic strain of Aspergillus Flavus in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion: the reduction of Aflatoxin B1 production was significantly higher (94.34%) in comparison with other plant extracts such as Caffeine (50%), and reduced fungal growth with an average of (4%) compared to control. Conclusion: Aqueous Extracts of Green Cardamom show an obvious reduction in inhibition synthesis of Aflatoxin B1 by toxigenic Aspergillus strain, the adapted method was effective, but even further investigation is still recommended.

Patulin removal and biopreservation of apple by three lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from foods

ABSTRACTPenicillium expansum contamination and patulin production can occur at various stages of the food chain, leading to detrimental effects on the quality and shelf life of food. Consequently, it is imperative to develop safe and efficient methods to control fungal growth and prevent mycotoxin contamination. The use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for food biopreservation has become one of the most promising alternatives. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of three LAB strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 4F, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 4JC, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 3MI3 against Penicillium expansum, and we further evaluated their biopreservative potential using apple as a food model against the blue mould. Moreover, their ability to remove patulin (10 µg/mL) from MRS broth and apple juice was also examined. The mechanism involved in this decontamination was investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was found that in vitro antifungal activity of the three strains was validated in vivo. All strains were able to reduce patulin from MRS medium, notably L. plantarum4F exhibited the highest rate of reduction (88.18%). This particular strain eliminated patulin from juice, with a reduction of 87.26%. The C = O, C–H, and N–H were the main functional groups engaged in patulin adsorption indicated by FTIR and SEM-EDS. Furthermore, in terms of morphological changes, SEM analysis revealed that bacterial cell wall became irregular. This research provides evidence of control of blue Penicilium growth on apple and patulin removal using antifungal LAB strains.

Effect of Streptomyces roseolus Cell-Free Supernatants on the Fungal Development, Transcriptome, and Aflatoxin B1 Production of Aspergillus flavus

Crop contamination by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), an Aspergillus-flavus-produced toxin, is frequently observed in tropical and subtropical regions. This phenomenon is emerging in Europe, most likely as a result of climate change. Alternative methods, such as biocontrol agents (BCAs), are currently being developed to reduce the use of chemicals in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination. Actinobacteria are known to produce many bioactive compounds, and some of them can reduce in vitro AFB1 concentration. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the effect of a cell-free supernatant (CFS) from Streptomyces roseolus culture on the development of A. flavus, as well as on its transcriptome profile using microarray assay and its impact on AFB1 concentration. Results demonstrated that in vitro, the S. roseolus CFS reduced the dry weight and conidiation of A. flavus from 77% and 43%, respectively, and was therefore associated with a reduction in AFB1 concentration reduction to levels under the limit of quantification. The transcriptomic data analysis revealed that 5198 genes were differentially expressed in response to the CFS exposure and among them 5169 were downregulated including most of the genes involved in biosynthetic gene clusters. The aflatoxins’ gene cluster was the most downregulated. Other gene clusters, such as the aspergillic acid, aspirochlorine, and ustiloxin B gene clusters, were also downregulated and associated with a variation in their concentration, confirmed by LC-HRMS.

Issue Information

PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANETVolume 5, Issue 3 p. 305-306 ISSUE INFORMATIONFree Access Issue Information First published: 26 April 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10271AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Graphical Abstract Maize being dried in N'Golonianasso, Koutiala, Mali. Maize and several other crops grown in the tropics are at risk of aflatoxin contamination, which starts in the field, and can worsen if suboptimal grain drying practices, such as those depicted, are used. Ortega-Beltran and Bandyopadhyay’s article “Addressing another threat to food safety: conflict” discusses the impact of conflict on crop production, including crops produced in and exported from Ukraine. If crop production is moved from colder to warmer regions, strategies will need to be implemented to prevent mycotoxin contamination events, which have negative health, social, and economic impacts. Image courtesy of Alejandro Ortega-Beltran and features Karim Dagno with kind permission. Volume5, Issue3May 2023Pages 305-306 RelatedInformation

Dual-signal amplified cathodic electrochemiluminescence aptsensor based on a europium-porphyrin coordination polymer for the ultrasensitive detection of zearalenone in maize

The sensitive and fast detection of mycotoxins is of considerable significance in the prevention of mycotoxin contamination in cereals. This study reports the ultrasensitive detection of zearalenone (ZEN) in maize by a novel dual-signal amplified cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptsensor. The Eu-prorphyrin coordination polymer (Eu-PCP) exhibited a good cathodic ECL signal at − 1.5 V, and consequently the undesirable effect of the oxidation of interfering substances was avoided, which improved the selectivity and stability of the sensor. In particular, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) accelerated the electron transfer rate and effectively improved the ECL signal of the Eu-PCP. Furthermore, the carboxyl-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (C-g-C3N4) acted as a new co-reactant promoter, prompting the co-reactant S2O82- to generate more SO4−• radicals, which further enabled Eu-PCP to generate higher ECL signal. Under optimal conditions, the proposed ECL aptsensor showed a large linear range of 0.001–200 μg kg−1 with a detection limit of 9.75 × 10−5 μg kg−1 (S/N = 3). Finally, the dual-signal amplified cathodic ECL platform was successfully utilized to determine trace amount of ZEN, and its early detection is beneficial to avoid spoilage of maize.

Addressing another threat to food safety: Conflict

Societal Impact StatementThe conflict between Ukraine and Russia will negatively affect not only food security but also food safety. Crops produced in Ukraine and Russia are at little risk of contamination by mycotoxins such as aflatoxin. However, due to the conflict, wheat, maize, sunflower, and other crops that would have been produced in and exported from Ukraine will need to be produced somewhere else. If done in warm production areas, strategies will need to be implemented to prevent mycotoxin contamination, which has negative health, social, and economic impacts.SummaryConflicts across the globe affect food security and also have a heavy toll on food safety. Many of the areas affected by conflict are breadbaskets for multiple countries. When the production of staple crops is compromised by diverse conflicts, it becomes necessary to grow them somewhere else to satisfy local, regional, and/or international requirements. However, if that production is done in tropical and subtropical zones, it must be done incorporating strategies to prevent mycotoxin contamination, which has negative health, social, and economic impacts. Otherwise, increased production of susceptible crops in mycotoxin‐prone areas may augment the already occurring negative impacts, which are severe in the global south.

Gradient boosting and bayesian network machine learning models predict aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in Illinois - First USA case study.

Mycotoxin contamination of corn results in significant agroeconomic losses and poses serious health issues worldwide. This paper presents the first report utilizing machine learning and historical aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination levels in-order-to develop models that can confidently predict mycotoxin contamination of corn in Illinois, a major corn producing state in the USA. Historical monthly meteorological data from a 14-year period combined with corresponding aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination data from the State of Illinois were used to engineer input features that link weather, fungal growth, and aflatoxin production in combination with gradient boosting (GBM) and bayesian network (BN) modeling. The GBM and BN models developed can predict mycotoxin contamination with overall 94% accuracy. Analyses for aflatoxin and fumonisin with GBM showed that meteorological and satellite-acquired vegetative index data during March significantly influenced grain contamination at the end of the corn growing season. Prediction of high aflatoxin contamination levels was linked to high aflatoxin risk index in March/June/July, high vegetative index in March and low vegetative index in July. Correspondingly, high levels of fumonisin contamination were linked to high precipitation levels in February/March/September and high vegetative index in March. During corn flowering time in June, higher temperatures range increased prediction of high levels of fumonisin contamination, while high aflatoxin contamination levels were linked to high aflatoxin risk index. Meteorological events prior to corn planting in the field have high influence on predicting aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination levels at the end of the year. These early-year events detected by the models can directly assist farmers and stakeholders to make informed decisions to prevent mycotoxin contamination of Illinois grown corn.

DNA metabarcoding of fungal communities in Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.)

Heshouwu, derived from the dried root tuber of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., is a widely used functional food and medicinal herb. Mycotoxin pollution of Heshouwu samples has become an emergent issue that cannot be ignored. In this study, the presence of fungi in commercial Heshouwu samples was investigated, and the differences in fungal community in samples from different collection sites and processing approaches were analyzed by DNA metabarcoding. Results showed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the predominant phyla. At the genus level, Aspergillus (2.14%–94.05%), Cladosporium (0.22%–41.18%), Candida (0%–87.40%), Penicillium (0.01%–27.45%), and Alternaria (0%–32.29%) were the main genera. Meanwhile, six potential toxigenic fungi and one human pathogen, namely, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nomius, Aspergillus tamarii, Fusarium solani, Penicillium paxillin, Penicillium steckii, and Candida tropicalis, were detected. In addition, differences in fungal diversity, community composition, trophic modes, and functional groups of Heshouwu samples from five collection sites and two processing approaches were observed. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the fungal communities of Heshouwu, thereby providing a basis for future research on the prevention of mycotoxin contamination in this important medicinal herb.

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling and functional analysis reveal miR-330-MAPK15 axis involving in cellular responses to deoxynivalenol exposure

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the mycotoxins that is toxic to agricultural environment, which poses high risks to human and farm animal health. Noncoding RNAs have been shown to be crucial regulators of toxicological processes and as promising biomarkers for toxicity monitoring and prevention of mycotoxin contamination. Herein, we characterized genome-wide transcriptional profiling of porcine intestinal epithelial cells upon DON exposure and illustrated a subset of miRNAs and lncRNAs involved in the cellular processes by targeting genes associated with stress responses. A total of 110 differential expression miRNAs and 143 differential expression lncRNAs were identified between the DON exposure and control cell samples. Interactive network analysis showed that miR-330 was one hub noncoding RNA, expression of which was significantly increased upon DON exposure. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the genes involved in the networks were mainly enriched in the terms of plasma membrane bounded cell projection assembly, mRNA processing, and regulation of mitochondrion organization. Further functional analysis revealed that high expression of miR-330 inhibits the reactive oxygen species production, cell apoptosis, and autophagic flux in cells upon DON exposure. Luciferase assay further indicated that miR-330 could directly target MAPK15. Knockdown of MAPK15 resulted in decreased reactive oxygen species level and cell apoptosis induced by DON, indicating the existence of miR-330-MAPK15 regulatory axis in regulating DON toxicity. Our work shed novel insights into the mode of action of DON at cellular level and indicated the potential of miR-330 as a biomarker for toxicity monitoring of DON contamination, which contributes to the development of effective biomonitoring and prevention strategies to reduce the toxicological effects of DON.

Assessment of Traders’ Attitude towards Prevention of Mycotoxin Contamination in Markets in Federal Capital Territorial, Abuja

Assessment of Traders’ Attitude towards Prevention of Mycotoxin Contamination in Markets in Federal Capital Territorial, Abuja

Knowledge and Behavioral Habits to Reduce Mycotoxin Dietary Exposure at Household Level in a Cohort of German University Students.

Mycotoxins pose a health concern for humans. Therefore, strategies at pre- and post-harvest and maximum levels for food have been implemented, aimed to minimize the risk of dietary exposure. Yet, consumers’ dietary habits and life style play a substantial role in overall exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of mycotoxins and accordance to behavioral practices or habits that may affect the risk of mycotoxin dietary exposure at the household level or when food commodities are obtained from non-regulated trade markets. For this purpose, an online survey was applied to a university student cohort (n = 186). The survey consisted of 23 questions grouped in five categories: Socio-demographic and income data, general life style and habits, knowledge about mycotoxins, compliance with the “17 golden rules to prevent mycotoxin contamination” of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), and measures towards reducing health risks. We paid particular attention to knowledge and compliance of a group acquiring food items in markets outside regulation and surveillance, namely, adherents of food movements such as food sharing or dumpster diving. The results of our study indicate a generally rather low level of knowledge about mycotoxins in the investigated cohort, as well as a weak perception of their associated risks compared to similar studies; around half of the cohort was unfamiliar with the term “mycotoxin” and the health risks of mycotoxins were considered comparable to those of pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics and food additives. We observed, in general, a relatively high degree of compliance with the proposed golden rules. The rules with the highest compliance related to deteriorated foods with visible signs of fungal infestation, probably because these are already considered as food waste. Rules that were less followed included those that require a specific knowledge of food storage and early fungal contamination stages, namely preventive measures related to storage of bread. Adherents of food movements did not differ significantly with the control group in terms of knowledge, risk perception and compliance with the 17 golden rules. This may be due to the homogeneity of the cohort in terms of demography, age and educational level. However, significant low compliance in the food movements group was observed with the rules “Buy fruit and vegetables that are as intact as possible, i.e., without injuries and bruises” and “Rotten fruit should neither be eaten nor further processed into compote or jam”, possibly because of ideological convictions around reducing food waste. In conclusion, mycotoxin prevention strategies should not end at the retail level; in particular, clarification and information regarding health risk from mycotoxins are suggested in order to reduce the risk of exposure in private households or in informal trade markets. The results of this study should, however, be interpreted with caution due to the specific characteristics of the cohort in terms of age and educational level and the disparity in size between the control and the food movement group. This study is a starting point for evaluating and understanding the consumer perspective on mycotoxins.

Multimycotoxin Determination in Grains: A Comprehensive Study on Method Validation and Assessment of Effectiveness of Controlled Atmosphere Storage in Preventing Mycotoxin Contamination.

Two simple and low-cost QuEChERS approaches were optimized and validated for multimycotoxin determination in grains by UPLC-MS/MS and applied to assess effectiveness of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage in preventing mycotoxin contamination. Common bean, soybean, and maize samples were stored for 6 months. CA treatments were conducted varying O2 and CO2 partial pressures, temperatures, and moisture contents of the chambers. In the validation study for common bean and maize, 8 out of 11 mycotoxins were successfully validated. For soybean, 10 out of 11 mycotoxins were validated. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in all commodities. Statistical tests suggest that storage temperature played a key role in aflatoxin B1 concentrations in common bean and soybean, but had no influence on maize. Maize was also positive for fumonisins B1 and B2. Differences in fumonisin concentrations were not significant among different treatments. Concentrations of aflatoxin B1 in some samples exceeded legislation's maximum levels. Thus, some of the CA treatments applied were effective in preventing mycotoxin contamination in common bean and soybean but were not effective for maize.

Diversity of Mycobiota in Spanish Grape Berries and Selection of Hanseniaspora uvarum U1 to Prevent Mycotoxin Contamination.

The occurrence of mycotoxins on grapes poses a high risk for food safety; thus, it is necessary to implement effective prevention methods. In this work, a metagenomic approach revealed the presence of important mycotoxigenic fungi in grape berries, including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger aggregate species, or Aspergillus section Circumdati. However, A. carbonarius was not detected in any sample. One of the samples was not contaminated by any mycotoxigenic species, and, therefore, it was selected for the isolation of potential biocontrol agents. In this context, Hanseniaspora uvarum U1 was selected for biocontrol in vitro assays. The results showed that this yeast is able to reduce the growth rate of the main ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic Aspergillus spp. occurring on grapes. Moreover, H. uvarum U1 seems to be an effective detoxifying agent for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, probably mediated by the mechanisms of adsorption to the cell wall and other active mechanisms. Therefore, H. uvarum U1 should be considered in an integrated approach to preventing AFB1 and OTA in grapes due to its potential as a biocontrol and detoxifying agent.

Occurrence and preventive strategies to control mycotoxins in cereal-based food.

Mycotoxins contamination in cereal-based food is ubiquitous according to systematic review of the scientific documentation of worldwide mycotoxin contamination in cereal and their products between 2008 and 2018, thus representing food safety issue especially in developing tropical countries. Food processing plays a vital role to prevent mycotoxin contamination in food. Therefore, it is with great urgency to develop strategies to inhibit fungi growth and mycotoxin production during food processing. This review begins by discussing physicochemical properties of five most common mycotoxins (aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone) found in cereal grains, regulation for mycotoxins in food, and their potential negative impact on human health. The fate of mycotoxins during major cereal-based food processing including milling, breadmaking, extrusion, malting, and brewing was then summarized. In the end, traditional mitigation strategies including physical and chemical and potential application of biocontrol agent and essential oil nanoemulsions that can be applied during food processing were discussed. It indicated that no single method is currently available to completely prevent mycotoxin contamination in cereal foods.

Microflora of Mycotoxigenic Fungi in Rice Grains in Kyushu Region of Japan and Their Changes during Storage under non-Controlled Conditions.

Contamination of agricultural crops by mycotoxins has increased because of the expansion of mycotoxin-producing fungi along with global warming. In this study, the fungal microflora of brown rice grains cultivated in Kyushu region in the southern part of Japan was investigated. A total of 75% of rice samples examined in this study showed less than 30% of fungal contamination rates with a median rate of 12.5%. Some isolates of Aspergillus flavus showed the ability to produce aflatoxins (AFs) (AFB1 production was 62.5-70.4 ng/mL) . Furthermore, AF-producing Aspergillus flavus survived during storage and Aspergillus creber, which produced sterigmatocystin, was detected in a stored rice sample. Although AFs or sterigmatocystin-contamination was not detected in any rice samples, these mycotoxin-producing fungi are distributed and can survive during storage under the natural conditions in Japan. Employing suitable storage conditions is important for preventing mycotoxin contamination of brown rice grains.

Streptomyces roseolus, A Promising Biocontrol Agent Against Aspergillus flavus, the Main Aflatoxin B₁ Producer.

Crop contamination by aflatoxin B1 is a current problem in tropical and subtropical regions. In the future, this contamination risk may be expanded to European countries due to climate change. The development of alternative strategies to prevent mycotoxin contamination that further contribute to the substitution of phytopharmaceutical products are thus needed. For this, a promising method resides in the use of biocontrol agents. Several actinobacteria strains have demonstrated to effectively reduce the aflatoxin B1 concentration. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of action by which these biological agents reduce the mycotoxin concentration has not been determined. The aim of the present study was to test the potential use of Streptomyces roseolus as a biocontrol agent against aflatoxin B1 contamination. Co-cultures with Aspergillus flavus were conducted, and the molecular fungal response was investigated through analyzing the q-PCR expression of 65 genes encoding relevant fungal functions. Moreover, kojic and cyclopiazonic acid concentrations, as well as morphological fungal changes were also analyzed. The results demonstrated that reduced concentrations of aflatoxin B1 and kojic acid were respectively correlated with the down-regulation of the aflatoxin B1 gene cluster and kojR gene expression. Moreover, a fungal hypersporulated phenotype and a general over-expression of genes involved in fungal development were observed in the co-culture condition.

Evaluation of hermetic technologies in the control of insect infestation and mycotoxin contamination in stored maize grains: Presentation

Grain losses due to moulds during on-farm storage increase food insecurity, result in economic losses, negatively affect farmers’ livelihoods, and increase exposure to mycotoxins that can harm human and animal health. Hermetic storage technologies provide a reliable solution for maize grain that may also preserve food safety. Several studies report the effectiveness of these technologies against post-harvest insects in Africa but provide limited evidence on effectiveness against mould proliferation and mycotoxin contamination. Hermetic technologies were superior to farmer practice in reducing insect infestations and mycotoxin accumulation. Among hermetic technologies, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in performance between metal silos and hermetic bags for mycotoxin accumulation and insect infestation regardless of the mode of infestation. In non-inoculated grain, fungal populations were varied but included mycotoxin-producing Aspergillus and Fusarium spp., indicating that the grain was naturally contaminated and acted as a good reservoir for these fungi. Mycotoxin levels increased with higher moisture even in non-inoculated grain. Meanwhile, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels at 4 months were not significantly different from baseline values in dry inoculated grain across all storage technologies (P>0.05), indicating that hermetic technologies can prevent mycotoxin contamination in dry grain for at least 4 months of storage. Aflatoxin and fumonisin were significantly higher by 1.69 ppb and 0.25 ppm respectively in non-inoculated grains at high moisture indicating the need to adequately dry grain before storage in hermetic technologies. This trend was observed collectively in all the technologies registering 2.03 ppb and 0.311 ppm respectively. In inoculated grains at high moisture, there was an increase in aflatoxin in both hermetic treatments and the control by 5.7 ppb and 12.14 ppb respectively. Therefore, a trial was conducted to compare hermetic technologies with farmer practice in their effectiveness against both insect infestation and mycotoxin contamination.