TFDA tests find higher aflatoxin levels in cereals, maize flour

ROSE ATHUMANI

HIGH levels of aflatoxin amounting to between 5.7 to 204.5 micro grams per kilo, way above the required 5 microgram per kilo, were found in 115 samples of maize cereals and maize flour and human samples tested by the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, United States respectively.

The Minister for Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that out of the 115 maize cereals and maize flour samples tested by TDFA, 52 samples showed high levels of aflatoxin while 19 out of 24 human samples tested by CDC, showed high aflatoxin.

“Cereals samples tested by the Government Chemist showed that the cereals had a growth of aspergillus fungus that causes aflatoxin, which affects the liver” Ms Mwalimu said in a news conference yesterday.

The minister noted that by July 31, this year, there were a total of 54 patients with 14 deaths (20 per cent) from aflatoxicosis disease, terming the high number of deaths a major challenge to the health sector.

“There was only one case reported in Kondoa last week; and those that had been admitted to hospitals are four; one of them in Dodoma Referral Hospital,” she explained.

Ms Mwalimu added that TFDA was now getting more samples for testing from 10 districts, which border the affected areas to check the extent of the disease and bring it to control as well as finding out if the food is stored in clean environments.

“We express appreciation for all the help we got from both local and international institutions including the WHO, CDC, TFDA and the government Chemist.....we are now investing more into providing public education on storage of cereals in clean dry places and testing more samples to ensure this does not happen anywhere else,” she explained.

The survey also showed that livers of some of the people, whose samples were taken, had indication of aflatoxin although the affected people did not show any signs of the malady.

The ministry and TFDA is taking measures to counter the disease, including taking more samples in the 10 neighbouring districts, as well as collaborating with agriculture and livestock stakeholders to provide public education on the right ways to store food.