A comprehensive study to explore differences in mycotoxin patterns from agro-ecological regions through maize, peanut, and cassava products: a case study, Cameroon

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 May 21;62(20):4789-97. doi: 10.1021/jf501710u. Epub 2014 May 13.

Abstract

A total of 420 samples were collected from agrarian households. Whereas 51% (215/420) of the samples were contaminated with one or more toxins, the contamination rates for maize, peanut, and cassava products were 74, 62, and 24%, respectively. The fumonisins (20-5412 μg/kg), aflatoxin B1 (6-645 μg/kg), roquefortine C (1-181 μg/kg), and deoxynivalenol (27-3842 μg/kg) were the most prevalent contaminants in maize. For peanut samples, aflatoxin B1 (6-125 μg/kg) and ochratoxin A (0.3-12 μg/kg) were the main contaminants, whereas aflatoxin B1 (6-194 μg/kg) and penicillic acid (25-184 μg/kg) were detected in the cassava products. Exposures calculated through maize intake for fumonisin B1 and aflatoxin B1 were several-fold higher (2-5 for fumonisin B1 and 10(4)-10(5) for aflatoxin B1) than the health-based guidance values of 2 μg/kg bw/day and 0.15 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The study design constitutes a good model that can be implemented in other sub-Saharan African countries.

MeSH terms

  • Arachis / chemistry*
  • Arachis / microbiology
  • Cameroon
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Manihot / chemistry*
  • Manihot / microbiology
  • Mycotoxins / chemistry*
  • Vegetables / chemistry
  • Vegetables / microbiology
  • Zea mays / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / microbiology

Substances

  • Mycotoxins