Aflatoxins Challenge in TanzaniaAflatoxins Challenge in Tanzania

Regional Workshop on the Aflatoxin Challenge in Eastern and Regional Workshop on the Aflatoxin Challenge in Eastern and Southern Africa, Lilongwe-Malawi, 11-13 March 2014Southern Africa, Lilongwe-Malawi, 11-13 March 2014

Dr. Martin E. KimanyaDr. Martin E. KimanyaNelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and

TechnologyTechnology

Occurrence aflatoxins in cereal and oil crop Occurrence aflatoxins in cereal and oil crop harvests of 1987 and 1988 in Tanzaniaharvests of 1987 and 1988 in Tanzania

Crop No of Samples

Positive samples(%)

Samples above ML (%)

Maize 472 11.2 52.8

Groundnuts 202 50.0 90.1

Sunflower seed oil

129 28.6 71.4

ML = 20 µg/kg

Occurrence aflatoxins in other foods in TanzaniaOccurrence aflatoxins in other foods in Tanzania

• Aflatoxin MAflatoxin M11 in cow’s milk, determined in 92% in cow’s milk, determined in 92%

of samples at levels ranging from 0.005–0.855 of samples at levels ranging from 0.005–0.855

µg/kg µg/kg

• Aflatoxin BAflatoxin B11 in Fish, at levels ranging from 7-19 in Fish, at levels ranging from 7-19

µg/kg µg/kg

• Aflatoxin BAflatoxin B11 in opaque beer, at 10-50 µg/L in opaque beer, at 10-50 µg/L

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in breast milk: occurrence, Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in breast milk: occurrence, percentage of the milk exceeding EU MLs percentage of the milk exceeding EU MLs

Lactation stage

M1 M3 M5

Number of samples 144 122 121

Range (ng/ml) 0.01 - 0.55 0.01 - 0.47 0.01 - 0.34

Median (ng/ml) 0.07 0.08 0.08

% exceeding 0.025ng/mla 96 91 96a: EU limit for AFM1 contamination in infants food

Prevalence and levels of AF-alb in young Prevalence and levels of AF-alb in young childrenchildren

Survey point Prevalence (%) Mean Level (pg/ml)

Recruitment 67 4.7

6 months after recruitment

84 12.9

12 months after recruitment

99 23.5

What are the potential solutions for What are the potential solutions for aflatoxin control in Tanzaniaaflatoxin control in Tanzania

• The Tanzania performs a country and economic assessment in 2012 with The Tanzania performs a country and economic assessment in 2012 with

PACA supportPACA support

• Tanzanian stakeholders came together at the aflatoxin stakeholders’ Tanzanian stakeholders came together at the aflatoxin stakeholders’

workshop (co-organized by TFDA and Abt Associates)workshop (co-organized by TFDA and Abt Associates)

• Actions plans that support adoption of the priority control strategies were Actions plans that support adoption of the priority control strategies were

sketched outsketched out

• The National Forum for Mycotoxins Control, with a supporting steering The National Forum for Mycotoxins Control, with a supporting steering

committee committee

Priority Control Strategies for AgriculturePriority Control Strategies for Agriculture

• Continue to measure, test, and assess the scale of the problemContinue to measure, test, and assess the scale of the problem

• Promote and make available good agricultural/management Promote and make available good agricultural/management

practicespractices

• Develop bio-control for Tanzania, keeping in mind the cost Develop bio-control for Tanzania, keeping in mind the cost

implications for poorer farmersimplications for poorer farmers

• Continue research efforts for breeding maize, groundnuts, and Continue research efforts for breeding maize, groundnuts, and

other crops for mycotoxin resistance, for availability in the longer other crops for mycotoxin resistance, for availability in the longer

time horizontime horizon

Priority Control Strategies for TradePriority Control Strategies for Trade

• Shape the marketplace to improve awareness of the presence and Shape the marketplace to improve awareness of the presence and

risks of aflatoxin in the food and feed system and create market-risks of aflatoxin in the food and feed system and create market-

based incentives for safer foodbased incentives for safer food

• Improve the formaulation and application of standards relating to Improve the formaulation and application of standards relating to

aflatoxins in domestic marketsaflatoxins in domestic markets

• Improve policies and procedures for product withdrawalImprove policies and procedures for product withdrawal

• Improve suitability for commerce or trade of susceptible products.Improve suitability for commerce or trade of susceptible products.

Priority Control Strategies for Public Priority Control Strategies for Public HealthHealth

• Promote proper food handling, processing, and preparation to Promote proper food handling, processing, and preparation to

reduce mycotoxin contaminationreduce mycotoxin contamination

• Achieve universal vaccinations for HBV since liver cancer risk is Achieve universal vaccinations for HBV since liver cancer risk is

30 times higher in HBV-positive populations30 times higher in HBV-positive populations

• Routinely monitor mycotoxins in cereal-based weaning foodsRoutinely monitor mycotoxins in cereal-based weaning foods

Priority Control Strategies for Policy Priority Control Strategies for Policy ReformReform

• Recommend review and finalization of various policies eg. (1) Recommend review and finalization of various policies eg. (1)

National Food Security Policy, (2) National Food Safety Policy, National Food Security Policy, (2) National Food Safety Policy,

(3) National Nutrition Policy(3) National Nutrition Policy

• Coordinate with relevant ministries and institutions and propose Coordinate with relevant ministries and institutions and propose

mycotoxin levels for feedmycotoxin levels for feed

• Ensure that priority strategies and action plans are included in the Ensure that priority strategies and action plans are included in the

business plans of relevant departments and institutions within line business plans of relevant departments and institutions within line

ministriesministries

Priority Control Strategies for Policy Priority Control Strategies for Policy ReformReform

• Raise awareness from the community level up to the decision Raise awareness from the community level up to the decision

makers makers

• Support more research to fill the current gaps in aflatoxin Support more research to fill the current gaps in aflatoxin

prevalence prevalence

• Develop and agree on a data collection protocol and require that Develop and agree on a data collection protocol and require that

results from research conducted in Tanzania be shared with the results from research conducted in Tanzania be shared with the

national government and entered into a centralized databasenational government and entered into a centralized database

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