# Aflatoxin
## Introduction

This is a learning resource about Aflatoxin and supports learners in risk mitigation. Wikiversity quizzes will be integrated as self-assessment framework including images.

### Learning Environment

* Learning resource contains information about Aflatoxin with a chemistry background,
* Learning resource contains information about Aflatoxin for farmers, so that they learn how to detect Aflatoxin contamination on the crop and follow recommendations about risk mitigation strategies.

### Wiki Quiz

* Demo Wiki Quiz - that show possible content elements (see also Help:Quiz to create your own quizzes.
* Aflatoxin Questionnaire 1 will show how to collect data for Risk Management in the context of exposure to Aflatoxin.

## Information for Farmers

* Project AflaZ: Zero Aflatoxin - A multidisciplinary cooperation project between German and African research institutions - by the Max-Rubner Institute (MRI)
* Fact sheet: Mycotoxins - by the World Health Organization (WHO)
* Aflatoxins in food - by the European Food Savety Authority (EFSA)
* Save and Grow in practice: maize, rice, wheat - A guide to sustainable cereal production - by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
* Guide: Good Agricultural Practices for Family Agriculture - by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
* Training manual: On-farm Mycotoxin Control in Food and Feed Grain - by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
* Good Agricultural Practices – Summary - by Wikifarmer

### Definition

Aflatoxins are various poisonous carcinogens and mutagens that are produced by certain molds, particularly Aspergillus species. The fungi grow in soil, decaying vegetation and various staple foodstuffs and commodities such as hay, sweetcorn, wheat, millet, sorghum, cassava, rice, chili peppers, cottonseed, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and various spices. In short, the relevant fungi grow on almost any crop or food. When such contaminated food is processed or consumed, the aflatoxins enter the general food supply. They have been found in both pet and human foods, as well as in feedstocks for agricultural animals. Animals fed contaminated food can pass aflatoxin transformation products into eggs, milk products, and meat. For example, contaminated poultry feed is the suspected source of aflatoxin-contaminated chicken meat and eggs in Pakistan.

## List of outbreaks

International sources of commercial peanut butter, cooking oils (e.g. olive, peanut and sesame oil), and cosmetics have been identified as contaminated with aflatoxin. In some instances, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), and other analytical methods, revealed a range from 48% to 80% of selected product samples as containing detectable quantities of aflatoxin. In many of these contaminated food products, the aflatoxin exceeded the safe limits of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other regulatory agency.
* 2003 Kenya: acute poisoning, 120 confirmed deaths.
* February–March 2013: Romania, Serbia, Croatia imported into western Europe - 2013 aflatoxin contamination.
* February 2013: Iowa contamination.
* 2014 (ongoing): Nepal and Bangladesh, neonatal exposures, found in umbilical cord blood.
* 2019 Kenya: five brands of maize flour recalled due to contamination.
* 2021 USA: Contamination of pet food manufactured by Midwestern Pet Food, causing the deaths of at least 70 dogs.