Scientists have raised the alarm over the risk posed by a fungus, Aflatoxin, to human health and food security in Nigeria.
They said Aflatoxin, staple food like maize, groundnut, melon, sorghum and others have been found to be responsible for liver damage and deaths.
According to them, exposure to the fungus which has toxic effects has been identified as a cause of liver cancer.
The fungus, they added, can also compromise the immunity and health of farm and laboratory animals.
The President of the Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Atanda, who is the lead consultant, countrywide assessment of Aflatoxin in Nigeria, under the partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa programme, said this during a meeting of the stakeholders.
Atanda, who doubles as the head of the Department of Food Services and Tourism, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said between five and 30 per cent of the 40 per cent of all liver cases in Africa could be traced to the effect of Aflatoxin.
He also said about five billion people in the developing world, including Nigeria, were exposed to the fungus which has already been classified by the International Cancer Research Institute as Class One human carcinogen.
“Acute severe exposure results in direct liver damage, illness or death. Chronic sub-lethal exposure affects nutrition, the immune system and the risk of cancer,” he said.
Also in her presentation, a doctoral student and consultant to the PACA project, Mrs. Modupe Adetunji, said that Aflatoxin contamination has been found to be predominant in the humid zones of Nigeria.
Adetunji added that the contamination level of the fungus had become very high in states in the South-West, including Lagos State.
We need more explanation, do you implied we should not eat these God given natural foods? prove yourself and know that the common man in Nigeria depends solely on these foods.So be sure of your research.
ReplyDeleteNoting them no go tell us. E remain make them say make we no drink water. Na only GOD go save us.
ReplyDeleteThis is very WRONG AND HARMFUL INFORMATION:
ReplyDeleteFirst, Aflatoxin is NOT a fungi. It is a metabolite (toxin) produced by some fungi (Aspergillus spp).
Secondly, under controled conditions, Aspergillus spp produces other useful enzymes and metabolites that are safe and in use in other industries. So, in essence, the fungi (Aspergillus spp) will only produce this harmful toxin (Aflatoxin) under certain conditions.
Thirdly, In addition to production in grains, Aflatoxin mostly occurs in badly produced milk; when you feed animals with contaminated animal feed.
Finally, Aflatoxin is carcinogenic (causes cancer) at certain levels and it is produced under poor storage and crop management. However, it is very wrong to provide half/incorrect info to the public.
The organization involved should educate farmers and the public about the conditions in which Aflatoxin is produced, the toxic level of the toxin and the common identification features of the fungi (Aspergillus spp) that produces the toxin (Aflatoxin).
This report was either released by a non-professional body or it was a propaganda or it was both.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
@ Prof. May 20, 2012 4:50 PM
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information.
Thanks for the info Prof. What storage conditions makes Aspergillus spp produce Aflatoxin?
ReplyDeleteThank you prof for the explanation i also want to add to the discussion by saying that are method of preservation, handling and storage of crops in this country is poor and standard low, we store are food crop and cash crops in poorly vented areas that permit high humidity and this allow for afflatoxin to grow especially when the crop or food concern has oil it aids de4terioration and growth of asperigillus spp are aided.
ReplyDeletethe best way i thing is for proper education of the public on food handling ,food safety and good storage technics
This report is a bad distortion of what i said. God save the Nigerian press despite deliberate education of the reporter. It seems to me he was only interested in selling his paper. Secondly, I never talked about aflatoxins in Cassava and wonder where the reporter got his information. Thirdly aflatoxin is one of the metabolites of some fungi species especially the Aspergillus species produced under poor storage, in properly processed or bad management of crops in the field. Aflatoxins are not only carcinogenic, they are teratogenic and mutagenic. They are also heat stable
ReplyDeleteDr Olusegun Atanda. President, Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria