title: Strategies to reduce exposure of fumonisins from complementary foods in rural Tanzania.
abstract: Feeding infants with maize can expose them to fumonisin mycotoxins. We assessed fumonisin exposure from complementary foods in rural Tanzania and determined strategies to reduce the exposure. We conducted a cross-sectional study in four villages of Tarakea division, Northern Tanzania. We used a repeat 24-hour dietary recall to collect data of maize consumption as complementary food for 254 infants aged 6-8 months. Fumonisin concentrations in the maize were also estimated. Fumonisin exposure was assessed using @risk analysis software. With the software, several maximum fumonisin contamination and maize consumption patterns were combined in order to determine effective strategies for minimizing fumonisin exposure. Of the infants, 89% consumed maize at amounts up to 158g/person/day (mean; 43g/person/day±28). The maize was contaminated with fumonisins at levels up to 3201µgkg(-1) . Risk of fumonisin intake above the provisional maximum tolerable daily limit of 2µgkg(-1) body weight was 15% (95% confidence interval; 10-19). The risk was minimized when the maximum contamination was set at 150µgkg(-1) . The risk was also minimized when the maximum consumption was set at 20g/child/day while keeping the maximum contamination at the European Union (EU) maximum tolerated limit (MTL) of 1000µgkg(-1) . Considering the economical and technological limitations of adopting good agricultural practices in rural Tanzania, it is practically difficult to reduce contamination in maize to 150µgkg(-1) . We suggest adoption of the EU MTL of 1000µgkg(-1) for fumonisins in maize and reduction, by replacement with another cereal, of the maize component in complementary foods to a maximum intake of 20g/child/day.
authors: Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Martin E
authors: ME
authors: Kimanya
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: De Meulenaer
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Van Camp
authors: Katleen
authors: K
authors: Baert
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Kolsteren
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D012423:Rural Health; D013636:Tanzania; D014886:Weaning; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037341:Fumonisins