Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, toxic and immunosuppressive substances produced by some species of the fungal genus, Aspergillus. Consumption of aflatoxins can have serious health effects. Widespread in the tropical and sub-tropical world, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is found in many staple foods and feeds; af...

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Autores principales: Mutua, Florence K., Lindahl, Johanna F., Grace, Delia
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101208
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author Mutua, Florence K.
Lindahl, Johanna F.
Grace, Delia
author_browse Grace, Delia
Lindahl, Johanna F.
Mutua, Florence K.
author_facet Mutua, Florence K.
Lindahl, Johanna F.
Grace, Delia
author_sort Mutua, Florence K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, toxic and immunosuppressive substances produced by some species of the fungal genus, Aspergillus. Consumption of aflatoxins can have serious health effects. Widespread in the tropical and sub-tropical world, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is found in many staple foods and feeds; after ingestion it is metabolized to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), which transfers to milk. One option for reducing aflatoxin concentration in cow milk is addition of mycotoxin binders to animal feeds, but little is known about this practice in the smallholder dairy systems in developing countries. We undertook a study to investigate the availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Data were collected using key informant interviews with government officials and one-to-one questionnaire-guided interviews with agrovet outlets (shops that sell animal health products (such as antibiotics) and crop inputs (such as fertilizers) and feed processors. Nine different mycotoxin binder types were reported. They were sold by 8% (4/49) of agrovets and 33% (3/9) of feed processors. The binders were purchased by farmers formulating their own feeds and by feed processors. Our review of regulations found that incorporating binders into animal feeds is not mandatory and there are no specific standards governing their use in Kenya. Feed processors are expected to respect the maximum allowable limit of 5 μg/kg for AFB1 in complete feeds. Gaps in the local feed supplies that may potentially lead to increased risks of aflatoxin exposure through milk are discussed. This study provides key data on the availability and local use of mycotoxin binders, which were previously lacking. However, there is a need for continued research on their effectiveness in the local smallholder context, in order to promote their appropriate use.
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spelling CGSpace1012082023-12-08T19:36:04Z Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya Mutua, Florence K. Lindahl, Johanna F. Grace, Delia food safety aflatoxins feeds Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, toxic and immunosuppressive substances produced by some species of the fungal genus, Aspergillus. Consumption of aflatoxins can have serious health effects. Widespread in the tropical and sub-tropical world, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is found in many staple foods and feeds; after ingestion it is metabolized to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), which transfers to milk. One option for reducing aflatoxin concentration in cow milk is addition of mycotoxin binders to animal feeds, but little is known about this practice in the smallholder dairy systems in developing countries. We undertook a study to investigate the availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Data were collected using key informant interviews with government officials and one-to-one questionnaire-guided interviews with agrovet outlets (shops that sell animal health products (such as antibiotics) and crop inputs (such as fertilizers) and feed processors. Nine different mycotoxin binder types were reported. They were sold by 8% (4/49) of agrovets and 33% (3/9) of feed processors. The binders were purchased by farmers formulating their own feeds and by feed processors. Our review of regulations found that incorporating binders into animal feeds is not mandatory and there are no specific standards governing their use in Kenya. Feed processors are expected to respect the maximum allowable limit of 5 μg/kg for AFB1 in complete feeds. Gaps in the local feed supplies that may potentially lead to increased risks of aflatoxin exposure through milk are discussed. This study provides key data on the availability and local use of mycotoxin binders, which were previously lacking. However, there is a need for continued research on their effectiveness in the local smallholder context, in order to promote their appropriate use. 2019-04 2019-05-07T08:55:27Z 2019-05-07T08:55:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101208 en Open Access Springer Mutua, F., Lindahl, J. and Grace, D. 2019. Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Food Security 11(2): 359–369.
spellingShingle food safety
aflatoxins
feeds
Mutua, Florence K.
Lindahl, Johanna F.
Grace, Delia
Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title_full Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title_fullStr Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title_short Availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya
title_sort availability and use of mycotoxin binders in selected urban and peri urban areas of kenya
topic food safety
aflatoxins
feeds
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101208
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