Complete data from a mycotoxin survey conducted in western Honduras in 2017 and 2018

Abstract

· We determined the occurrence of and exposure levels to aflatoxins and fumonisins in maize intended for human and animal consumption in food-insecure regions of western Honduras by using a monoclonal antibody-based affinity spectrofluorimetric method. · Fumonisins were detected in 614/631 samples of maize destined for human consumption at 0.3 to 41 mg/Kg. Of the 614 positive samples, 147 had fumonisin levels exceeding the U.S. FDA advisory threshold of 4.0 mg/Kg. · Aflatoxins were detected in 109 of the 631 samples with concentrations between 1.0 and 490 µg/Kg. Aflatoxin levels in 34 samples exceeded the FDA regulatory limit of 20 µg/Kg. · Aflatoxins and fumonisins co-occurred in 106/631 samples with 60 samples containing both toxins at levels greater than the FDA regulatory levels. · Samples of maize intended for animal feed had significantly higher aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination levels than those observed in samples destined for human consumption.

Description

Keywords

Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, Maize, Public health, Animal feed, Subsistence farmers

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