Prevalence and mitigation of aflatoxins in Kenya (1960-to-date)

Authors: MUTEG, CHARITY - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Cotty, Peter; BANDYOPADHYAY, RANAJIT - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Submitted to: World Mycotoxin Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aflatoxins are deadly poisons that frequently contaminate corn, peanut, and milk produced in Kenya. Contamination of corn is a particular concern because corn makes up a large component of the diet in Kenya and there have been repeated episodes of lethal aflatoxin poisoning in Kenya’s warmest corn production areas. Unfortunately, much of the impact of aflatoxins in Kenya is primarily in popular publications and inadequately documented in the scientific literature. This leads to inadequate understanding of incentives for adoption of aflatoxin management tools such as the biocontrol product developed for Kenya by ARS in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The current review provides documentation of the severity and prevalence of contamination in Kenya and discusses economic drivers that may influence adoption of the already developed and highly effect biocontrol product intended for use in management of aflatoxin contamination of maize in Kenya.

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins are highly toxic metabolites of several Aspergillus species widely distributed throughout the environment. These toxins have adverse effects on man and livestock at a few parts per billion (µg/kg) concentrations. Strict regulations on the concentrations of aflatoxins allowed in food and feed exists in many nations. This notwithstanding, aflatoxin regulations are not adequately enforced resulting in consumption of dangerous concentrations. In Kenya, where farm to mouth crops become severely contaminated, solutions to the aflatoxin problem are needed. Across decades, aflatoxins have repeatedly caused loss of human and animal life. A prerequisite to developing viable solutions to the aflatoxin problem is understanding the geographical distribution and severity of food and feed contamination, and the impact on lives. The current review discusses the scope of the aflatoxin problem in Kenya and on-going management efforts. The review discusses economic drivers likely to influence the choice in aflatoxin management efforts as well as knowledge gaps that can direct future efforts. Key words: aflatoxicosis; liver cancer; economic drivers; knowledge gaps.