Unmasking aflatoxin hazards in maize for human consumption: investigating maize contamination in Mwanza Markets, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Aflatoxin arises from toxigenic Aspergillus species, which infect maize because of improper storage, insuffi-cient drying, extended storage periods, and suboptimal farming practices. This study investigated the aflatoxin contamination in maize for human consumption within specific markets of Mwanza, Tanzania. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2021. Maize samples were analyzed using ELISA followed by descriptive statistical data analysis. Results: A total of 90 maize merchants from 8 local markets were involved. Their mean age was 34.7 (± 6.7) years, majority were male (51 out of 90, 56.7%). Among the vendors, the majority were not aware of aflatoxin (62 out of 90, 68.9%), stored maize in polypropylene woven bags (62 out of 90, 68.98%) and dried the maize before storage (86 out of 90, 95.6%). Out of the 90 samples, 10 (11.1%) had aflatoxin contamination above 1µg/kg, ranging from 1.01µg/kg to 33.4µg/kg with 3 (3.3%) being contaminated above the acceptable standard (≥10µg/kg). Conclusion: The levels of aflatoxin contamination in maize for human consumption exceed the established safety thresh-olds. Governments in lower and middle-income nations should intensify enforcement of regulations aimed at enhancing community awareness regarding aflatoxin risks and minimizing contaminations. Keywords.