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A Case for Aflatoxin Control in Nutrition Strategy

A Case for Aflatoxin Control in Nutrition Strategy. Joyceline Kaganda , Director Nutrition and Education, TFNC. INTRODUCTION. Mycotoxin are secondary metabolites of moulds that exert toxic effects on animals and humans ( Mycotoxicosis )

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A Case for Aflatoxin Control in Nutrition Strategy

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  1. A Case for Aflatoxin Control in Nutrition Strategy JoycelineKaganda, Director Nutrition and Education, TFNC

  2. INTRODUCTION • Mycotoxin are secondary metabolites of moulds that exert toxic effects on animals and humans (Mycotoxicosis) • Aflatoxins is one of the mycotoxins that frequently contaminate foods such as groundnuts, maize, rice and other cereals. • Contamination occurs if there are drought conditions during planting, and use of good agricultural practices that promote plant health is low, andwhen storage practice is not proper.

  3. Perfect aflatoxin storm in sub-Saharan Africa susceptible crops susceptible climate suboptimal production systems 35o N & S

  4. Aspergillus flavus: Aflatoxin producing mold Aflatoxin B1 Aflatoxins • Toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillusflavus and related species in several crop species • Aflatoxin B1 is the most potent of all toxins produced by Aspergillusflavus • It is considered as carcinogen –chronic exposure can result in liver cancer • It has been associated with immune suppression and stunting • Acute exposure can lead to death

  5. Aflatoxins • Aflatoxins are present in blood of pregnant women exposed to aflatoxins, neonatal umbilical cord blood, and in breast milk. • HIV/AIDS and exposure to aflatoxin forms a fatal combination because aflatoxin on its own is immunosuppressive • Liver cancer is 30 times more likely among HBV positive populations

  6. Aflatoxin Prevalence in Tanzania LOD = Limit of Detection; ppb = Parts per Billion

  7. Prevalence of Aflatoxin B1 in Groundnuts

  8. Prevalence of Aflatoxin B1 in Maize

  9. Health –Risk of Aflatoxin Exposure Share of Foods in Weekly Calorie Intake of Households • Maize constitutes a large share of Tanzanian diets. • There is heavy reliance on maize-based porridges during a child’s weaning stage. • Consumers’ level of aflatoxin knowledge is very low. • A large share of maize consumption comes from own production for agricultural households

  10. Sensitivity Analysis of Impacts • Estimated the impact with varying contamination. • Even at 10 ppb the current consumption levels of maize implies that 1092 out of 1209 liver cancer cases can be attributed to aflatoxins. • In another sensitivity analysis, we estimate that if HBV prevalence is reduced to zero, the total number of liver cancer cases attributed to aflatoxins would reduce 3-fold

  11. Tanzania Aflatoxin Stakeholders’ Workshop3-4 December 2012 • Over 50 participants from government, private sector, and NGOs, and from agriculture, health, and trade sectorsin Tanzania. • Participants agreed to form a National Forum on MycotoxinsControl. • Participants also agreed to form a National Steering Committee on Mycotoxins Control.  TFDA will serve as secretariat. • Attendees identified priority activities and strategies in pre-harvest, post-harvest, public health, trade, and policy. • The new Steering Committee plans to meet in January 2013 to discuss next steps and make further plans.

  12. Priority Public Health Strategies to Control Aflatoxin • Work with representatives from the agriculture and trade sectors to develop public awareness campaigns about the aflatoxins problem and how to reduce aflatoxins. • Promote food handling, processing, and preparation activities that can reduce aflatoxin. • Implement programs to detect and map aflatoxinin cereals at the community level. • Conduct additional alfatoxinresearch. • HBVvaccination

  13. Priority Policy Strategies to Control Aflatoxin • Recommend finalization of policies, taking into account food safety and mycotoxins: • National Food Security Policy • Draft Regulations under Grazing Lands and Animal Feed Resources Act • National Nutrition Policy • Include line item for mycotoxins controlin upcoming budget.

  14. Priority Policy Strategies to Control Aflatoxin(continued) • Raise awareness of aflatoxin among policy makers. • Recommend routine monitoring of mycotoxins in cereal-based weaning foods. • Include reference to myctoxinsin Infant and Young Child Nutrition Guidelines. • Develop guidelines and other IC materials for controlling mycotoxins in agricultural production.

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