The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development has put out 12-peer reviewed scientific articles in a special issue about aflatoxin. The main corresponding author for the issue, which is sponsored by the International Livestock Research Institute, is Dr. Johanna Lindahl (J.Lindahl@cgiar.org).
The editor of AJFAND recently sent out a notice about the special issue and expounded on the International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, where participants all seemed interested in the ongoing efforts to control mycotoxin contamination.
“Aflatoxins have become vicious contaminants in cereals and particularly maize which is a major staple for millions of consumers around the world,” Ruth Oniang’o wrote.
“The Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) is one program that illustrates how best a public/private partnership can be forged to address a global challenge that affects human health. PACA has been adopted by the Africa Union, and is supported by governments and donors alike, and embraced by different partners including private sector and NGOs. Simple methods are being sought to address the problem which now is linked to stunting, disease, cancer and death.
“Aflatoxins impede trade and thus the economic wellbeing of families, communities and countries. Aflatoxin is found in milk and meats as well. It is, therefore, important to understand that passing on bad food to our livestock is not the answer as it only gets back to us.”
Also, the first All Africa Postharvest Congress & Exhibition will be held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya on March 28 to 31, 2017.
Here are the AJFAND articles:
- Editorial: Johanna Lindahl, Delia Grace, Jagger Harvey and Erastus Kang’ethe: Aflatoxins in East Africa: The importance of getting the full picture
- Assessing the impact of aflatoxin consumption on animal health and productivity. Christine Atherstone et al. [Uganda]
- Aflatoxin exposure among young children in urban low-income areas of Nairobi and association with child growth. Gideon M Kiarie et al. [Kenya]
- Aflatoxin B1 occurrence in millet, sorghum and maize from four agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Anima Sirma et al. [Kenya]
- Prevalence of aflatoxin in feeds and cow milk from five counties in Kenya. Daniel Senerwa et al. [Kenya]
- Survey of informal milk retailers in Nairobi, Kenya and prevalence of aflatoxin M1 in marketed milk. Yumi Kirino et al. [Japan]
- Assessment of pre-harvest aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of maize in Babati District, Tanzania. Chacha Nyangi et al. [Tanzania]
- Kenya dairy farmer perception of moulds and mycotoxins and implications for exposure to aflatoxins: A gendered analysis. Teresa Kiama et al. [Kenya]
- A review of agricultural aflatoxin management strategies and emerging innovations in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethel O Monda and AE Alakonya [Kenya]
- Potential of lactic acid fermentation in reducing aflatoxin B1 in Tanzania maize-based gruel. Frida Nyamete et al. [Tanzania]
- Examining environmental drivers of spatial variability in aflatoxin accumulation in Kenyan maize: Potential utility in risk prediction models. Laura Smith et al. [USA]