Category Archives: Aflatoxin

Kenya – Over 2,000 Bags of Aflatoxin Infected Maize Seized in Marsabit

All Africa

Public Health Officers in Marsabit County have seized 2,856 bags of maize infected with aflatoxin.

The maize, which was stored at the Marsabit National Cereals and Produce Board, was found to have aflatoxin levels eight times above the regulatory limit.

Marsabit County Executive in charge of Public Health and Sanitation David Timado said on Saturday that health officers took action after members of the public raised complaints over the quality and colour of the relief maize.

Mr Timado said the complaints were raised by Jaldesa, Sagante, North Horr area and Laisamis residents.

“Public health officers from various sub-counties visited the National Cereals and Produce Board depot where they picked samples from the different stores for analysis at the Kenya Government Chemist and the National Public Health Laboratories in Nairobi,” said Mr Timado.

Mr Timado added that about 460 bags of relief maize was affected by weevils.

“We have seized all the grains and we urge members of the public to be calm as the situation is under control. All public health officials across the county have started inspecting maize in markets and schools,” added Mr Timado.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Hazlenuts – Groundnuts – Paprika Powder – Muesli for Children – Spice Mix – Almonds – Baby Food

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 12 µg/kg – ppb) in organic hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.1; Tot. = 5.1 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 15; Tot. = 19.1 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts kernels from Brazil in Germany

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 9.51; Tot. = 10.06 µg/kg – ppb) in spicy paprika powder from Turkey, via Spain in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 0.4 µg/kg – ppb) in muesli for children from Germany in switzerland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6.2; Tot. = 6.2 µg/kg – ppb) in spice mix from Pakistan in Ireland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.1; Tot. = 8.1 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 12.7; Tot. = 20.4 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 19; Tot. = 21 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 0.18 µg/kg – ppb) in cereal-based baby food from Switzerland in Switzerland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.0 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

 

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 79; Tot. = 90 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Sudan in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 170 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from Sudan in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 140 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

Kenya – Aflatoxin Risk

The Star

Kenya has been mapped as an aflatoxin hotspot, a leading cause of liver cancer, hiding in grains like maize and animal food products.

Findings of a study released last month by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) showed a large amount of milk and grains consumed by Kenyans have aflatoxin levels exceeding internationally accepted limit.

Aflatoxin is a tasteless poison produced by Aspergillus flavus fungus caused by a mould in soil that commonly affect cereals. It is mostly passed to humans through animal food products or direct ingestion of affected crops.

The study dubbed “Measuring and mitigating risk of mycotoxins in maize and dairy products for poor consumers in Kenya” was done from samples of of livestock feeds collected from farmers in five counties.

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation director general Eliud Kireger however dismissed the report as alarmist, saying that most Kenyans could have died if that was the case.

He however acknowledged that aflatoxin is a major threat to food security in the country, asking the government to subsidise bio-control products to tackle aflatoxin.

“The government must provide farmers with Aflasafe KE01, just the same way it subsidize fertilizer. The product effectively clear aflatoxin from soils,” said Kireger.

Public health director, Kepha Ombacho told the Star on phone that the state is conducting several activities to curb food poisoning through aflatoxin. He however, declined to comment further on the report, promising a comprehensive statement later.

The ILRI study established that Kenya had aflatoxin levels of between 0.02 parts per billion (ppb) to 9661 ppb with positive samples ranging from 75-100 per cent.

RASFF Alert- Aflatoxin -Pistachio- Almonds – Ground Ogbono – Hazlenuts – Groundnuts – Peanuts

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 35.4; Tot. = 38.4 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, via Turkey in Greece

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 6.2; Tot. = 6.9 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = >24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds without shell from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = >24.0; Tot. = >24.0 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 19.3; Tot. = 25 µg/kg – ppb) in ground ogbono from Nigeria in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 56.2 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 50; Tot. = 55 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from India in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.0; Tot. = 9.0 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 18; Tot. = 22 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts from Egypt in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 67.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in Greece

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 200 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Sudan in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 39; Tot. = 42 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 134.8; Tot. = 139.4 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24.1 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

Hong Kong – Not to consume prepackaged ginger powder contaminated with Aflatoxins

CFS

Issue Date 5.7.2018
Source of Information Centre for Food Safety (CFS)
Food Product A batch of prepackaged ginger powder manufactured in India
Product Name and Description Product name: Organic Ginger Powder

Brand: SpiceBox

Place of origin: India

Distributor: SpiceBox Organics Limited

Net weight: 50 grams per pack

Best-before date: March 30, 2019

Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a shop in the Mid-levels for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The results showed that it contained aflatoxins at a level of 20 micrograms (µg) per kilogram. Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulation (Cap 132 AF), the maximum permitted concentration for aflatoxins in food (except for peanuts or peanut products) is 15µg/kg.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO)’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified naturally occurring aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans, and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives advised that intake of aflatoxins should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably possible although no health-based guidance value has been set. Aflatoxins can lead to liver cancer after long-term ingestion, and the risk for hepatitis B carriers is relatively high.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity and the vendor has removed from shelves and stopped sale of the affected product according to the CFS’ instructions. Should there be sufficient evidence, prosecution will be instituted. The Centre is also tracing the source and distribution of the affected product.
  • The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected product immediately if they possess it.
Advice to Consumers
  • Stop consuming the affected batch of the product if they bought it.
  • To avoid excessive intake of mycotoxins, people should maintain a balanced and varied diet to minimise the risk from a small range of food items, and to avoid consuming food that looks mouldy or damaged.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Roasted Curry Powder – Groundnuts – Almonds – Roasted Hazelnuts

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted curry powder from Sri Lanka in Switzerland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.5; Tot. = 9.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 24 µg/g) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 20.1; Tot. = 23.7 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted hazelnuts from Turkey in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 10.98 µg/kg – ppb) in diced roasted hazelnuts from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 66.81; Tot. = 75.45 µg/kg – ppb) in inshell groundnuts from China in Poland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 32; Tot. = 44 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 3.4; Tot. = 4 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from China in France

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Ground Nutmeg – Dried Figs – Ginger Powder – Bitter Almond Kernels – Crushed Chillies – Pistachios

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13; Tot. = 15 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF -aflatoxins (Tot. = 14 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (47 µg/kg – ppb) in grinded ground nutmeg from Indonesia in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 29.6; Tot. = 40 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Greece in Poland

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11.30; Tot. = 16.31 µg/kg – ppb) in ginger powder from Nigeria, via Poland in Slovakia

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in bitter almond kernels from Turkey in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22; Tot. = 23 µg/kg – ppb) in crushed chillies from Sri Lanka in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 161; Tot. = 180 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio nuts with shell from Iran in Greece

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22; Tot. = 28 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert- Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 170 µg/kg – ppb) in groudnuts for birdfeed from Sudan in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Pistachio Nuts – Hazlenut Kernels – Groundnuts – Almonds

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11.3; Tot. = 12.0 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio nuts from Iran in Lithuania

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11.4; Tot. = 49.6 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 16.17; Tot. = 20.04 / B1 = 15.72; Tot. = 20.91 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts without shell from Egypt in Romania

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12.49 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from the United States in Spain