Aflatoxin Contamination in Cereals and Animal Feeds in Bomet County, Kenya: A Food Safety and Public Health Concern

Abstract

Aflatoxin is a type of mycotoxin originating from fungi that contaminates human food and animal feeds, causing serious health effects in humans and animals.  The study aims to determine fungal infestation and mycotoxin contamination of human food and animal feeds for public health initiatives in Bomet County. A quarter of a kilogram of ninety-one samples was taken randomly from each household and agro vets shops sampled during the study in brown bags to Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory in a deep freezer before laboratory investigation by culturing on mycological media. Fungi classification was based on morphological features. Mycotoxin detection was done using the ELISA-based EnviroLogix QuickTox Kit and the positive samples, was subjected to High-performance Liquid Chromatography analysis for QC purposes. Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp., Penicillium spp. and, Xeromyces spp. were isolated from cereals and animal feed. Of all the samples analyzed 34.1% were positive for aflatoxins and 17% of the samples analyzed were exceeding the acceptable levels. AFB1 and AFB2 were the most commonly identified, the largest proportion of Aflatoxins ranges from 0 µg/kg to 480 µg/kg. According to the European Union's acceptable limits, amounts of aflatoxin detected in some foods were unsafe and not fit for human consumption. The presence of aflatoxins in staple foods poses significant health risks, including hepatocarcinogenic effects, and has economic implications for food security. Pre-harvest and post-harvest practices can be applied to prevent or minimize aflatoxin levels in food, such as Crop protection, drying of cereals, sorting moldy or damaged Kernels, storing food in a dry place, use of fungicides and even use of gamma rays to radiate crops.