Abstract This study investigates aflatoxin contamination in peanut products and associated socio-demographic, knowledge, and handling factors among retailers in Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 300 retailers across five provinces, employing structured interviews to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, aflatoxin awareness, and handling practices. Quantitative analysis of aflatoxin levels in peanut flour and kernels was performed using a portable, ISO-validated Raptor Reader Neogen Model 9680 (Neogen Corporation, Lansing, MI, USA), which interprets results obtained from lateral flow immunoassays. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed that awareness of aflatoxins was limited, with only 28.3% of retailers cognizant of their presence in peanut products and 21.0% are aware of their health implications. Handling practices showed a high prevalence of kernel sorting before sale or processing (98.6%), yet inadequate packaging materials, such as buckets (44.7%) and polypropylene bags (35.3%) were commonly used. Aflatoxin concentrations in samples were substantially elevated, with a mean of 62.75 μ g/kg, exceeding international safety thresholds. Statistically significant differences in aflatoxin levels were observed between sample types ( P < 0.05), with peanut flour exhibiting higher contamination (mean 92.47 μ g/kg) than peanut kernels (mean 35.31 μ g/kg). Notably, 69.4% of peanut flour samples and 44.2% of peanut kernel samples surpassed the Rwandan regulatory limit of 10 μ g/kg. Geographical analysis indicated significant inter-provincial variation, particularly between Kigali City and the Western Province. These results highlight a critical public health concern due to elevated aflatoxin levels, exacerbated by limited awareness and substandard handling practices. To mitigate exposure, targeted educational campaigns, improved storage practices, and stricter regulatory enforcement, potentially facilitated by rapid on-site screening using lateral flow immunoassays coupled with portable readers, are urgently needed to enhance food safety and protect consumers.

Abstract Molds producing aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A (OTA) are naturally present in the production, handling and/or processing environments for pistachios. Despite extensive investments by US pistachio processors to eliminate these toxins, under select conditions, these molds can produce mycotoxins that contaminate pistachios at trace levels. While the distribution of aflatoxin in pistachio lots (when present) from repeated samples is well understood given long standing regulatory testing requirements for this mycotoxin, such data for OTA had not been studied, as this mycotoxin has only been more recently regulated globally. As such, the distribution of OTA in pistachio lots after repeated sampling, versus equivalent data collected for aflatoxin, was compared. OTA sample test results for 750 United States pistachio lots being considered for European Union (EU) export were collected across three commercial labs in California. Every lot considered had at least two samples submitted for OTA testing. Sample size was a function of lot size and if the nuts were in-shell or shelled, per export guidelines. The variation in repeated sample measures for OTA, as measured by standard deviation (SD) was directly proportional to corresponding means and well described () by a straight line. Comparison with an equivalent plot derived from repeated samples of 4,367 pistachio lots for aflatoxin, found a similar linear response (). The two linear fits of SD vs mean for OTA and Total Aflatoxin were not statistically different. This equivalency means that operating characteristic (OC) curves derived from published pistachio aflatoxin sampling data should also effectively describe OTA sampling data in pistachio. Published OC curves for pistachio/aflatoxin were accessed via the online Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) mycotoxin sampling tool and compared to experimental data. The total variance for aflatoxin at 5 μg/kg predicted by the FAO tool agreed well with experimental data.

Abstract Pap, a gruel prepared by treatment of ogi with boiling water, is widely consumed across West Africa and in the diaspora. It is, however, unknown whether probiotic strains with multi-functional properties can survive the preparation process of pap from ogi. Thus, this study aimed to select the surviving yeasts during the preparation of pap by heat treatment of maize- and sorghum-based ogi, and to screen the yeasts for their probiotic and multi-functional attributes including in vitro mycotoxin reduction potential. Four Pichia kudriavzevii strains out of 16 yeast isolates, including Kurtzmaniella natalensis and Kurtzmaniella quercitrusa, which survived the heat treatment of ogi to form pap, passed the probiotics selection criteria. These P. kudriavzevii strains were non-haemolytic, utilized bile salt efficiently, and survived 0.3% and 0.5% bile salt concentrations, pH 2.5, gastric and intestinal conditions at 100-104% and 99-104%, 92-99%, 88-92% and 102-121%, respectively. The strains also exhibited up to 97% potential for gut colonization through adherence to hydrocarbons, auto-aggregation activities at 98-100% after 24 h, and co-aggregation of notable foodborne pathogens. In addition, the strains were tolerant to 50 °C incubation for 12 h. The strains’ intact cells and cell-free extracts revealed strong potentials to scavenge and reduce free radicals. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed that the strains simultaneously reduced the levels of 31 mycotoxins in liquid medium in a 48-h experiment by 1-87%, which is tentatively explained through the efficient adsorption to the cell wall and subsequent metabolization. While reductions of 6-82%, 39-41% and 8-51% were observed for enniatins, sterigmatocystin and zearalenone, respectively, after incubation period of 1 h, all the other investigated mycotoxins were reduced by 1-96% at the 3-h timepoint. Probiotic P. kudriavzevii strains with multifunctional attributes are transferable to pap and other mild heat-treated products for consumer benefits.

Abstract Silage maize in Michigan and the Great Lakes region is exposed to in-field ear and stalk rot fungal infections by Fusarium spp. which may result in production of toxic secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. These toxins can cause severe health complications in livestock but might remain unidentified as most silage maize is fed on-farm and not sold in formal markets. This study was conducted to quantify the status of mycotoxins and the agronomic management practices impacting their concentration in silage maize across Michigan farms. Samples (n = 122) were collected from across the state for three years (2019-2021). Results show that 100% of the samples tested positive for deoxynivalenol (DON) at detectable levels. Other mycotoxins that occurred frequently were zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins, enniatins, and beauvericin (BEA). Mycotoxin concentration was found to vary across regions due to differences in weather parameters such as temperature and humidity, driven partly by the proximity of some regions to the Great Lakes. Mycotoxins were also found to co-occur, with an average of 13 mycotoxins in each sample. Strong correlations were observed between DON, ZEN, and BEA (r > 0.40). Crop rotation and planting date explained 91 and 68% variability in DON and fumonisin, respectively. Deoxynivalenol and fumonisin concentration was 20 and 67% higher in silage maize following a host crop of Fusarium spp. than a non-host crop. Planting silage maize between May 10 and May 30 increased the mycotoxin concentration by at least 50% than outside this window. However, tillage did not significantly impact mycotoxin occurrence and concentration. Overall, multiple mycotoxins were found in silage maize across the region and knowledge of their presence and contributing factors can help growers develop integrated management strategies to mitigate mycotoxin accumulation.

Abstract Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that frequently contaminates food crops and negatively impacts human and animal health. While inositol-6-phosphate (IP6) is known to counteract DON-induced intestinal damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress, its ability to alleviate DON-caused kidney injury is yet unexplored. This study assessed DON’s kidney effects and IP6’s protective capability using an ex vivo renal explants model. From 360 explants taken from six pigs, four groups were formed: control (culture medium), DON (10 μM equivalent to 3 mg/kg of feed), IP6 group (5 mM), and DON + IP6 (10 μM + 5 mM). DON elevated creatinine levels and γ-glutamyl transferase activity in the culture medium. It led to cytoplasmic vacuolation in convoluted tubular epithelial cells and tubular necrosis, a drop in antioxidant potential (ABTS) and a rise in interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA. The introduction of IP6 restored renal histological and functional parameters, bolstered antioxidant status, enhanced IL-10 gene expression, and reduced superoxide anion levels. These results indicate that within the model of renal explants, IP6 significantly alleviates the nephrotoxic effects of DON while efficiently regulating the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory response within the kidneys.

First and foremost, let me wish you a healthy and successful 2024!May you be able to convince funding organisations about the importance of research on food safety, in particular on mycotoxins.Last year brought the mycotoxin community both sadness and joy.In April, Prof. Naresh Magan passed on.Naresh served on the board of the World Mycotoxin Journal

Abstract This study aimed to develop an ex vivo model to evaluate the efficacy of antimycotoxin additives (AMAs) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) using intestinal explants of growing pigs. Four assays of two treatments with 12 replicates each (24 jejunal explants used per assay) were performed using an Ussing Chamber (UC) system: two assays to evaluate two AMAs for AFB1 and two assays to evaluate two AMAs for FB1. The difference between the two assays for both AFB1 and FB1 was the composition of the additive used. The treatments for AFB1 assays were control [Buffer solution (BS) + 1 mg/l AFB1] and AMA (BS + 1 mg/l AFB1 + 0.5% AMA 1 or 2). The treatments for FB1 assays were control (BS + 50 mg/l FB1) and AMA (BS + 50 mg/l FB1 + 0.5% AMA 3 or 4). The efficacy of the four additives was also tested in vitro. The AFB1 concentrations in the explants from AMAs 1 and 2 were lower () than in the control. AMAs 1 and 2 reduced the jejunal absorption of AFB1 by 83.4 and 72.9%, respectively. Explants from AMAs 3 and 4 had lower FB1 () concentration when compared to the respective control treatment. AMAs 3 and 4 reduced the FB1 absorption by 31.9 and 17.6%, respectively. In the in vitro test, AMAs 1 and 2 provided 98.4 and 86.3% of AFB1 adsorption, respectively, while AMA 3 and 4 provided 91.2 and 80.5% FB1 adsorption, respectively. The ex vivo model can be a useful tool in evaluating the effectiveness of antimycotoxin additives for AFB1 and FB1 in swine. However, the low FB1 uptake in jejunal explants highlights the need for the development of additional information to improve the method.

Abstract Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxic substances produced mainly by species of the genusAspergillus that can contaminate almost all foodstuffs. Apart from the harmful effects they have on human and animal health, they can be secreted unchanged in animal milk and cause contamination of milk and its products. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the major and most toxic type of aflatoxin after aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The use of probiotic strains to reduce the amount of aflatoxin in milk and by-products has been observed in many studies. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, articles in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and ISI Web of Science were searched to find eligible studies that reported reduction of AFM1 using probiotics in dairy products. The results were pooled using a random-effects model. In most studies, the efficiency of probiotics in milk has been tested byLactobacillus strains. The results indicated that probiotic microorganisms could significantly reduce AFM1 by 55.76% (confidence interval (CI): 54.35%, 57.16%; I2 = 100%). Besides, the rank order of AFM1 reduction in dairy products based on probiotic strain subgroup was:Lactobacillus 51.99% (CI: 50.14%, 53.85%, I2 = 100%),Saccharomyces 67.36% (CI: 65.05%, 69.67%, I2 = 100%),Bifidobacterium 54.80% (CI: 54.18%, 55.43%, I2 = 99.9%), and 61.90% (CI: 53.80%, 70.00%, I2 = 100%) by a mix of strains. Considering the high binding potential of AFM1 to probiotic strains, these microorganisms can be recommended as a safe system to reduce AFM1 in dairy products.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are natural toxic compounds produced by a specific type of fungi, which subsequently contaminate foods and animal feeds, potentially carcinogenic to humans. This study assessed the AFs awareness, prevalence and associated risk factors through a survey of the smallholder dairy farmers (SDFs) and livestock feeds and raw cow milk samples from three agroecological zones in Tanzania. The aflatoxin awareness among SDFs (419) and agrovet dealers (26) was 23.2% and 50%, respectively. The prevalence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in livestock feeds from agrovet dealers, and SDFs was 88.5 and 86.2%, with a concentration ranging from a limit of detection (LOD) to 22.99 and 32.9 μg/kg, respectively. However, 15.38 and 22.5% of AFB1 detected samples from agrovet dealers and SDFs exceeded the European Union (EU) and Tanzanian Bureau of Standards (TBS) limits of 5 μg/kg for dairy cow feeds. The prevalence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw cow milk was 30.7%, of which 27.9% exceeded the EU and TBS limits of 0.05 μg/l for raw cow milk. The risk factors associated with AFB1 and AFM1 were cattle feeding systems: zero-grazing (odds ratio (OR) = 11.3 (1.5-22.9)) and mixed feeding (OR=16.0 (1.4-43.6)), use of concentrates feeds (OR=12.0 (0.6-55.6)), mixed feeding (OR=5.0 (0.5-11.1)); feed handling and storage practices: no moisture content measurement (OR=2.0 (0.3-15.0)) and storing feeds (OR=3.6 (1.7-8.5)); agroecological zones: central zone (OR=15.2 (5.4-50.6)) and northern zone (OR=2.1 (0.7-7.3)); aflatoxin (AF) awareness and level of education: primary (OR=16.0 (2.5-155.3)) and secondary education (OR=8.0 (2.14-43.9)) (P<0.05). This study revealed a high prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds and raw cow milk, suggesting a potential health risk to consumers. Therefore, it is vital to increase awareness and knowledge on AFs, proper handling, storage and monitoring of feeds among the stakeholders in the dairy value chain.