title: Aflatoxin B1levels in groundnut products from local markets in Zambia.
abstract: In Zambia, groundnut products (milled groundnut powder, groundnut kernels) are mostly sold in under-regulated markets. Coupled with the lack of quality enforcement in such markets, consumers may be at risk to aflatoxin exposure. However, the level of aflatoxin contamination in these products is not known. Compared to groundnut kernels, milled groundnut powder obscures visual indicators of aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts such as moldiness, discoloration, insect damage or kernel damage. A survey was therefore conducted from 2012 to 2014, to estimate and compare aflatoxin levels in these products (n = 202), purchased from markets in important groundnut growing districts and in urban areas. Samples of whole groundnut kernels (n = 163) and milled groundnut powder (n = 39) were analysed for aflatoxin B1(AFB1) by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Results showed substantial AFB1contamination levels in both types of groundnut products with maximum AFB1levels of 11,100 μg/kg (groundnut kernels) and 3000 μg/kg (milled groundnut powder). However, paired t test analysis showed that AFB1contamination levels in milled groundnut powder were not always significantly higher (P > 0.05) than those in groundnut kernels. Even for products from the same vendor, AFB1levels were not consistently higher in milled groundnut powder than in whole groundnut kernels. This suggests that vendors do not systematically sort out whole groundnut kernels of visually poor quality for milling. However, the overall contamination levels of groundnut products with AFB1were found to be alarmingly high in all years and locations. Therefore, solutions are needed to reduce aflatoxin levels in such under-regulated markets.
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 1096, Lilongwe, Malawi. s.njoroge@cgiar.org.
authors.forename: Samuel M C
authors.initials: SMC
authors.lastname: Njoroge
authors.affiliation: Food Technology and Nutrition Group, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (NRC Campus), P.O Box 143, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: Limbikani
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matumba
authors.affiliation: Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Chipata, Zambia.
authors.forename: Kennedy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanenga
authors.affiliation: ICRISAT, P. O. Box 39063, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siambi
authors.affiliation: ICRISAT, Patancheru, Telagana, 502 324, India.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Waliyar
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 1096, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maruwo
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 1096, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Machinjiri
authors.affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), P. O. Box 1096, Lilongwe, Malawi.
authors.forename: Emmanuel S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Monyo
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis*; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005506:Food Contamination; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D016604:Aflatoxin B1
keywords: Aflatoxin; Food safety; Groundnut; Sub-Saharan Africa; Survey