Co-occurrence of fumonisins with aflatoxins in home stored maize for human consumption in rural villages of Tanzania

Martin Epafras Kimanya (1, 2) , Bruno de Meulenaer (2) , Bendantinguka Tiisekwa (3) , Frank Devlieghere (2) , Margareth Ndomondo-Sigonda (4) , John van Camp (2) , Patrick W Kolsteren (2, 5)

1 Food safety
2 Food Safety and Food Quality
3 Food Science and Technology
4 Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority
5 Public Health

This study determined fumonisin and aflatoxin contamination of maize and maize user practices that influence their presence in food consumed in the rural areas of Tanzania. Samples of the 2005 maize harvest in Tanzania were collected from 120 households and examined for fumonisins and aflatoxins. Information on whether the maize was sorted to remove defective (visibly damaged or mouldy) maize prior to storage and whether the damaged and mouldy maize or the non-dehulled maize was used as food was also collected. Also, percentage of defective kernels in the samples was determined. Ninety percent of the households sorted out defective maize, 53% consumed the defective maize and 30% consumed non-dehulled maize. In 52% of the samples, fumonisins were determined at levels up to 11 048µg/kg (median, 363µg/kg) and in 15% exceeded 1000µg/kg; the maximum tolerable limit (MTL) for fumonisins in maize for human consumption in other countries. Aflatoxins were detected in 18% of the samples at levels up to158µg/kg (median, 24µg/kg). Twelve percent of the samples exceeded the Tanzanian MTL for total aflatoxins (10µg/kg). Aflatoxins co-occurred with fumonisins in 12% of the samples. The percentage defective kernels (mean, 22%) correlated positively (r=0.39) with the fumonisin levels. Tanzanians are at a risk of exposure to fumonisins and aflatoxins in maize. There is a need for further research on fumonisin and aflatoxin exposures in Tanzania to develop appropriate control strategies.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Martin Epafras Kimanya, Bruno de Meulenaer, Bendantinguka Tiisekwa, Frank Devlieghere, Margareth Ndomondo-Sigonda, et al.. Co-occurrence of fumonisins with aflatoxins in home stored maize for human consumption in rural villages of Tanzania. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2008, 25 (11), pp.1353-1364. ⟨10.1080/02652030802112601⟩. ⟨hal-00577391⟩