How safe is your food? Managing the hidden poison
Aflatoxins are highly toxic metabolites of several Aspergillus species widely distributed throughout the environment. These toxins have adverse effects on humans and livestock at a few micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) concentrations. Kenya has the most recorded outbreaks of aflatoxicosis, that has resulted into death, in Africa. Aflatoxins affect not only human and animal health, but also food security and trade. Though produced in small quantities, the ease with which these highly potent, carcinogenic metabolites permeate farmers’ fields, and crop value chain, is of grave concern.