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A comprehensive study of bacterial and biotoxin contaminants of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Nigeria is yet to be reported. Hence, this study applied 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a dilute-and-shoot LC-MS/MS method to profile bacteria and biotoxins, respectively, in 199 RTE food samples comprising eko (n = 30), bread (n = 30), shawarma (n = 35), aadun (n = 35), biscuits (n = 34), and kokoro (n = 35). A total of 631 bacterial isolates, clustered into seven operational taxonomic units, namely Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Proteus and Kosakonia, Kurthia, and Yokenella, that are reported for the first time were recovered from the foods. One hundred and eleven metabolites comprising mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites, phytoestrogenic phenols, phytotoxins, and bacterial metabolites were detected in the foods. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, and ochratoxins contaminated only the artisanal foods (aadun, eko, and kokoro), while deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were found in industrially-processed foods (biscuit, bread, and shawarma), and citrinin was present in all foods except eko. Mean aflatoxin (39.0 µg/kg) in artisanal foods exceeded the 10 µg/kg regulatory limit adopted in Nigeria by threefold. Routine surveillance, especially at the informal markets; food hygiene and safety education to food processors and handlers; and sourcing of high-quality raw materials are proposed to enhance RTE food quality and safeguard consumer health.

Globally, cassava is an important food crop that contributes significantly to food security. In Nigeria, cassava can be traditionally processed into abacha (fermented strips), fufu (submerged-fermented porridge) and garri (solid-state fermented farinated granules) for human consumption. Despite the widespread consumption of these foods, there is a major knowledge gap in understanding their core bacterial diversity. This study, therefore, applied next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene to delineate the bacterial diversity in abacha, fufu and garri. Amplicon sequence variants belonging to nine phyla were present in the three foods. Firmicutes dominated the bacterial community of abacha and fufu, whereas, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in garri. At genus level taxa, Lactococcus, Lysinibacillus and Pseudomonas dominated the bacterial community in abacha, fufu and garri, respectively. Other dominant phylotypes reported in the foods belonged to Bacillus, Clostridium sensu stricto (cluster 1), Cupriavidus, Enterobacter, Sphingomonas and Staphylococcus. To the best of our knowledge, Clostridium sensu stricto cluster 1 and Lysinibacillus in fufu, and Brevundimonas, Cupriavidus, Sphingomonas and Strenotrophomomas in garri are reported for the first time. Although some potential pathogenic genera were recorded, the foods contained potentially functional species that could be explored to improve artisanal food production, food security and safeguard consumer health.

The totality of environmental exposures and lifestyle factors, commonly referred to as the exposome, is poorly understood. Measuring the myriad of chemicals that humans are exposed to is immensely challenging, and identifying disrupted metabolic pathways is even more complex. Here, we present a novel technological approach for the comprehensive, rapid, and integrated analysis of the endogenous human metabolome and the chemical exposome. By combining reverse-phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and fast polarity-switching, molecules with highly diverse chemical structures can be analyzed in 15 min with a single analytical run as both column's effluents are combined before analysis. Standard reference materials and authentic standards were evaluated to critically benchmark performance. Highly sensitive median limits of detection (LODs) with 0.04 μM for140 quantitatively assessed endogenous metabolites and 0.08 ng/mL for the100 model xenobiotics and human estrogens in solvent were obtained. In matrix, the median LOD values were higher with 0.7 ng/mL (urine) and 0.5 ng/mL (plasma) for exogenous chemicals. To prove the dual-column approach's applicability, real-life urine samples from sub-Saharan Africa (high-exposure scenario) and Europe (low-exposure scenario) were assessed in a targeted and nontargeted manner. Our liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) approach demonstrates the feasibility of quantitatively and simultaneously assessing the endogenous metabolome and the chemical exposome for the high-throughput measurement of environmental drivers of diseases.

Draft genomes of multidrug-resistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains IPK9(1) and IKS1(2), which were isolated from ready-to-eat foods (kokoro and shawarma) sold in Lagos, Nigeria, are reported. The genomes possessed genetic determinants for virulence and the antibiotic resistance gene for macrolide-associated resistance mdf(A) . Ready-to-eat foods increase public health threats in Nigeria.

Contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods by pathogenic bacteria may predispose consumers to foodborne diseases. This study investigated the presence of bacterial contaminants and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in three locally processed RTE foods (eko, fufu and zobo) vended in urban markets in Ogun state, Nigeria. Bacteria isolated from a total of 120 RTE food samples were identified by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny while susceptibility patterns to eight classes of antibiotics were determined by the disc diffusion method. Species belonging to the genera Acinetobacter and Enterobacter were recovered from all RTE food types investigated, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus were recovered from eko and fufu samples, while those of Shigella were recovered from eko samples. Enterobacter hormaechei was the most prevalent species in all three RTE food types. Precisely 99% of 149 isolates were multidrug-resistant, suggesting a high risk for RTE food handlers and consumers. Co-resistance to ampicillin and cephalothin was the most frequently observed resistance phenotype. Results demonstrate that improved hygiene practices by food processors and vendors are urgently required during RTE processing and retail. Also, adequate food safety guidelines, regulation and enforcement by relevant government agencies are needed to improve the safety of RTE foods and ensure the protection of consumer health.

In this study, melon (n = 60) and sesame (n = 60) seeds purchased from markets within Benue and Nasarawa states, respectively, in Nigeria, during two seasons (dry and wet), were analysed for fungal and mycotoxin contamination in order to determine the safety of these foods for human consumption. Molecular analysis revealed the following seven fungal taxonomic groups in the foods: Aspergillus section Candidi, Aspergillus section Flavi, Aspergillus section Nigri, Cladosporium, Fusarium fujikuroi species group, Penicillium, and Pleosporales/Didymellaceae. A total of 78 microbial metabolites, including several mycotoxins, occurred in the foods. The most frequent mycotoxins in melon and sesame were aflatoxin B1 (occurrence: 76%) and alternariol monomethyl ether (occurrence: 59%), respectively. However, higher mean total aflatoxin levels occurred in sesame (17 μg kg−1) than in melon (11 μg kg−1). About 28 and 5% of melon and sesame, respectively, exceeded the 4 μg kg−1 total aflatoxin limit for oilseeds intended for direct human consumption in the European Union. Additionally, fumonisin B1 and moniliformin occurred only in sesame, whilst ochratoxins A and B occurred only in melon; ochratoxin B being reported for the first time in this food. Our data indicated seasonal variations in the fungal and mycotoxin contamination levels in both foods.

Agricultural products may be contaminated by mycotoxin-producing pathogenic fungi while on the field or during harvesting and storage. A field survey was conducted in order to isolate and identify the mycotoxin-producing fungal strains in melon seeds collected from major markets in eight States in Nigeria. Samples per site were pooled, processed and screened for the presence of mycotoxin-producing fungi by culture technique and Internal transcribed spacer sequencing (ITS). Mycotoxin production was determined using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with a scanning densitometer. Eighteen producing fungi species: Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus flavipes, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium aurantiocandidum, Aspergillus awamori, Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus fischeri, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus oryzae, Lichtheimia hyalospora, Aspergillus terreus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus welwitschiae, Aspergillus corrugatus were identified. These sequences with accession numbers between MN423295-MN423331 have been deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The genera Macrophomina and were the most dominant. Some of the identified fungi are noted for the production of mycotoxins and mycotoxins exert toxic effects on animals and humans. The fungi associated to melon seeds diseases were identified and can be taken as targets in the varietal improvement of melon seeds for resistance to fungal diseases in Nigeria.

There is scarce data on the mycotoxin profile in retailed fruit juices in Nigeria. Thirty-five industrially-processed fruit juice samples randomly purchased from retailers in Ogun state, Nigeria, were analysed for the presence of650 toxic fungal and plant metabolites using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method. Only 18 metabolites, including 3-nitropropionic acid, alternariol methylether and emodin, but excluding citrinin, fumonisin B

The impact of fullerene C60 water soluble daughter molecules - fullerols C60(OH)24 nanoparticles (FNP) on emerging (non-aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway) toxins production in mycelia and yeast extract sucrose (YES) media of A. flavus was investigated under growth conditions of 29 °C in the dark for a 168 h period. The FNP solution (10, 100 and 1000 ng mL−1) contained predominantly nanoparticles of 8 nm diameter and with zeta potential mean value of −33 mV. Ten emerging metabolites were produced at concentrations reaching 1,745,035 ng 50 mL−1 YES medium. Seven of the metabolites were found in mycelia and media, while three were only in mycelia. Majority of the metabolites were detected in higher quantity in mycelia than in media, at a ratio of 99:1 (m/m). However, higher metabolite quantities were found in media following FNP application, while FNP caused a decrease of total metabolite quantities in mycelia. The concentrations of the metabolites in media increased in the presence of 1000 ng mL−1 FNP while mycelial quantities of the metabolites decreased with increased applied FNP dose. The impacts of global climate changes on FNP availability in the environment and on mycotoxin occurrence in crops increase the relevance of this study for risk assessment of nanoparticles. Cordycepin is reported for the first time as metabolite of A. flavus.

Exposure to food and environmental contaminants is a global environmental health issue. In this study, innovative LC-MS/MS approaches were applied to investigate mycotoxin co-exposure in mother-infant pairs (n = 23) by analyzing matched plate-ready food, breast milk and urine samples of mothers and their exclusively breastfed infants. The study revealed frequent co-occurrence of two to five mycotoxins. Regulated (e.g. aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A) and emerging mycotoxins (e.g. alternariol monomethyl ether and beauvericin) were frequently detected (3 %–89 % and 45 %–100 %), in at least one specimen. In addition, a moderate association of ochratoxin A in milk to urine of mothers (r = 0.47; p = 0.003) and infants (r = 0.52; p = 0.019) but no other significant correlations were found. Average concentration levels in food mostly did not exceed European maximum residue limits, and intake estimates demonstrated exposure below tolerable daily intake values. Infants were exposed to significantly lower toxin levels compared to their mothers, indicating the protective effect of breastfeeding. However, the transfer into milk and urine and the resulting chronic low-dose exposure warrant further monitoring. In the future, occurrence of mycotoxin-mixtures, and their combined toxicological effects need to be comprehensively considered and implemented in risk management strategies. These should aim to minimize early-life exposure in critical developmental stages.

The gut microbiome of neonates, infants, and toddlers (NITs) is very dynamic, and only begins to stabilize towards the third year of life. Within this period, exposure to xenobiotics may perturb the gut environment, thereby driving or contributing to microbial dysbiosis, which may negatively impact health into adulthood. Despite exposure of NITs globally, but especially in Africa, to copious amounts and types of xenobiotics - such as mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and heavy metals - little is known about their influence on the early-life microbiome or their effects on acute or long-term health. Within the African context, the influence of fermented foods, herbal mixtures, and the delivery environment on the early-life microbiome are often neglected, despite being potentially important factors that influence the microbiome. Consequently, data on in-depth understanding of the microbiome-exposome interactions is lacking in African cohorts. Collecting and evaluating such data is important because exposome-induced gut dysbiosis could potentially favor disease progression.

Contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins is considered a significant issue in food and feed safety worldwide [...]

The mycotoxicological safety of 85 mouldy dried fish (n=40) and meat (n=45) samples purchased from Ijebu-ode, Ogun State and Aleshinloye, Ibadan, Oyo State markets both in South Western part of Nigeria respectively, was assessed due to heavy consumption of these animal protein sources by many low-income families in Nigeria. The presence of aflatoxigenic moulds and levels of aflatoxins in the samples were determined by the dilution plating technique and high performance thin-layer chromatographic method. The predominant fungal species isolated from the samples was Aspergillus niger-clade (49.65%); other species isolated include Aspergillus section Flavi (36.83%) and (13.52%). All samples analysed for mycotoxin presence were contaminated with aflatoxin B1. Aflatoxin B2, G1 and G2 were below detectable limits. About 13% of the samples had aflatoxin B1 concentration higher than the maximum acceptable level (10 ng/g). Results imply that the consumption of mouldy dried meat can result in serious public health hazard and hence there is need for advocacy programs to enlighten the populace on proper processing and storage of meat products.

This study characterized the health risks due to the consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods and assessed the consumer awareness level of mycotoxins in households in two north-central Nigerian states during the harvest and storage seasons of 2018. Twenty-six mycotoxins and 121 other microbial and plant metabolites were quantified by LC-MS/MS in 250 samples of cereals, nuts and legumes. Aflatoxins were detected in all food types (cowpea, maize, peanut and sorghum) except in millet. Aflatoxin B1 was the most prevalent mycotoxin in peanut (64%) and rice (57%), while fumonisin B1 occurred most in maize (93%) and beauvericin in sorghum (71%). The total aflatoxin concentration was highest in peanut (max: 8422 µg/kg, mean: 1281 µg/kg) and rice (max: 955 µg/kg, mean: 94 µg/kg), whereas the totals of the B-type fumonisins and citrinin were highest in maize (max: 68,204 µg/kg, mean: 2988 µg/kg) and sorghum (max: 1335 µg/kg, mean: 186 µg/kg), respectively. Citrinin levels also reached 51,195 µg/kg (mean: 2343 µg/kg) in maize. Aflatoxin and citrinin concentrations in maize were significantly (p &lt, 0.05) higher during storage than at harvest. The estimated chronic exposures to aflatoxins, citrinin and fumonisins were high, resulting in as much as 247 new liver cancer cases/year/100,000 population and risks of nephrotoxicity and esophageal cancer, respectively. Children who consumed the foods were the most vulnerable. Mycotoxin co-occurrence was evident, which could increase the health risk of the outcomes. Awareness of mycotoxin issues was generally low among the households.

Grains and cassava-based foods serve as major dietary sources for many households in Nigeria. However, these foods are highly prone to contamination by moulds and aflatoxins owing to poor storage and vending practices. Therefore, we studied the fungal diversity in maize, cassava-based flour (pupuru), and rice vended in markets from Ondo state, Nigeria, and assessed their aflatoxin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Molecular analysis of 65 representative fungal isolates recovered from the ground grains and pupuru samples revealed 26 species belonging to five genera: Aspergillus (80.9%), Penicillium (15.4%), and Talaromyces (1.9%) in the Ascomycota, Syncephalastrum (1.2%) and Lichtheimia (0.6%) in Mucoromycota. Aspergillus flavus was the predominant species in the ground grains and pupuru samples. Aflatoxins were found in 73.8% of the 42 representative food samples and 41.9% exceeded the 10 μg/kg threshold adopted in Nigeria for total aflatoxins.

In this study, 81 samples of two cowpea varieties (brown: 54; white: 27) collected from various markets in southwestern Nigeria were examined for fungal and mycotoxin contamination. Moulds belonging to Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium were recovered from 99% of the samples. In both cowpea varieties, Aspergillus (52-53%) dominated Fusarium (29-30%) and Penicillium (17-20%). The interactive effect of cowpea variety and sampled location was significant (p = .013) on the occurrence of Fusarium species. Aflatoxins were detected in one brown and two white cowpea samples at concentrations reaching 209 and 84 µg/kg, respectively. Additionally, beauvericin was found in two samples of each cowpea variety, albeit at low concentrations. Cowpea presents as an alternative vegetable protein source to groundnuts in household nutrition with respect to mycotoxin contamination. Simple techniques to prevent mycotoxins in dry cowpeas are discussed.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha (A.) wilkesiana Muell. Arg (Euphorbiaceae) against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in albino rats. Methods: Twenty male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of four animals each. The control group (I) was fed with pellets and distilled water, while group II was orally administered with only 20 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. Groups III, IV and V were co- administered with 20 mg/kg body weight cyclophosphamide and 110, 220 and 440 mg/kg body weight A. wilkesiana leaf extract, respectively, for 7 d. After treatment, liver and kidney function biomarkers, haematological parameters, liver antioxidants, and mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore opening were investigated. Results: A. wilkesiana leaf extract significantly reduced (P

Cereals and cassava-based foods serve as major dietary sources for several households in Nigeria. However, these foods are highly prone to contamination by moulds and aflatoxins owing to poor storage and vending practices. We therefore studied the fungal diversity of maize, cassava-based flour (pupuru) and rice vended in markets from Ondo state, Nigeria, and assessed the aflatoxin levels of these using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Fungi were detected in 93 (88 %) of the 106 food samples. Molecular analysis of 65 representative isolates revealed 26 species belonging to 5 genera: Aspergillus (80.9 %), Penicillium (15.4 %) and Talaromyces (1.9 %) in the Ascomycota; Syncephalastrum (1.2 %) and Lichtheimia (0.6%) in Mucoromycota. Aspergillus flavus was the predominant species in the food samples. Aflatoxins were found in 98 % of the 42 representative food samples and about one half (49.8 %) exceeded the 10 μg/kg threshold adopted in Nigeria for total aflatoxins. Integrated mitigation options, including at post-harvest stages, are suggested to ensure consumer safety.

Evidence about the magnitude of the aflatoxin menace can help policy makers appreciate the importance of the problem and strengthen policies to support aflatoxin mitigation measures. In this study, we estimated aflatoxin-induced liver cancer risk in 2016 for Tanzania and used the information to estimate the health burden due to the aflatoxin exposure in the country. The burden of aflatoxin-induced liver cancer was assessed based on available aflatoxin biomarker data from a previous epidemiology study, hepatitis B virus infection prevalence and population size of Tanzania in 2016. The health burden due to aflatoxin-induced liver cancer was estimated using disability adjusted life years (DALYs). The aflatoxin exposures ranged from 15.0–10,926.0 ng/kg bw/day (median, 105.5 ng/kg bw/day). We estimated that in 2016 there were about 1,480 (2.95 per 100,000 persons) new cases of aflatoxin-induced liver cancer in Tanzania and assumed all of them would die within a year. These morbidity and mortality rates led to a total loss of about 56,247.63 DALYs. These results show, quantitatively, the cases of liver cancer and related deaths that could be avoided, and the healthy life years that could be saved, annually, by strengthening measures to control aflatoxin contamination in Tanzania.

Ogi is a fermented cereal beverage, made primarily from maize (Zea mays) and rarely from millets. Unlike maize-based ogi, little is known about the bacterial community and mycotoxin profile during the production of millet-based ogi. Therefore, the bacterial community dynamics and mycotoxin reduction during ogi processing from three millet varieties were investigated using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. A total of 1163 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were obtained, with ASV diversity across time intervals influenced by processing stage and millet variety. ASV distribution among samples suggested that the souring stage was more influenced by millet variety than the steeping stage, and that souring may be crucial for the quality attributes of the ogi. Furthermore, bacterial community structure during steeping and souring was significantly differentiated (PERMANOVA, P 0.05) between varieties, with close associations observed for closely-related millet varieties. Taxonomically, Firmicutes, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla were relatively abundant (1%). Lactic acid bacteria, such as Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Pediococcus, dominated most fermentation stages, suggesting their roles as key fermentative and functional bacteria in relation to mycotoxin reduction. About 52-100%, 58-100% and 100% reductions in mycotoxin (aflatoxins, beauvericin, citrinin, moniliformin, sterigmatocystin and zearalenone) concentrations were recorded after processing of white fonio, brown fonio and finger millet, respectively, into ogi. This study provides new knowledge of the dominant bacterial genera vital for the improvement of millet-based ogi through starter culture development and as well, elucidates the role of processing in reducing mycotoxins in millet ogi.

BACKGROUND Infants are a vulnerable population whose nutrition changes as complementary foods are introduced; a process which may modify patterns of exposure to dietary mycotoxins. However, exposure monitoring of dietary mycotoxin mixtures in several biological samples obtained from breastfed and non-exclusively breastfed children is scarce. OBJECTIVES To examine mycotoxin co-exposure patterns in infants using a multi-specimen, multi-mycotoxin approach. METHODS Breast milk, complementary food and urine obtained from 65 infants, aged 1–18 months, in Ogun state, Nigeria, were analyzed for mycotoxins using ultra-sensitive LC-MS/MS approaches. RESULTS Complementary food was contaminated with seven distinct classes of mycotoxins including aflatoxins (9/42 samples; range: 1.0–16.2µg/kg) and fumonisins (14/42; range: 8– 167µg/kg). Aflatoxin M1 was detected in breast milk (4/22), while six other classes of mycotoxins were quantified; including dihydrocitrinone (6/22; range: 14.0–59.7ng/L) and sterigmatocystin (1/22; 1.2ng/L) detected for the first time. Mycotoxins were detected in 64/65 of the urine samples, with seven distinct classes of mycotoxins observed demonstrating ubiquitous exposure. Two aflatoxin metabolites (AFM1 and AFQ1) and FB1 were detected in 6/65, 44/65 and 17/65 samples, respectively. Mixtures of mycotoxin classes were common, including 14/42, 22/22 and 56/65 samples having 2–4, 2–6 or 2–6 mycotoxins present, for complementary food, breast milk and urine, respectively. Aflatoxin and/or fumonisin was detected in 12/14, 4/22 and 46/56 for complimentary foods, breast milk and urine, respectively. Furthermore, the detection frequency, mean concentrations and occurrence of mixtures were typically greater in urine of non-exclusively breastfed compared to breastfed children. CONCLUSIONS The study provides novel insights into mycotoxin co-exposures in children in a mycotoxin high-risk country without proper food safety measures. Albeit a small sample set, it highlights significant transition to higher levels of infant mycotoxin exposure as complementary foods are introduced, providing impetus to mitigate during this critical early-life period and encourage breastfeeding.

Background In Cameroon dietary staples are contaminated with diverse toxic fungal metabolites, known as mycotoxins. Aflatoxins and fumonisins are of particular public health concern, particularly in relation to cancer and/or early life stunting. Mixtures of these toxins are predicted from food measures, and in this work, the levels and frequencies of urinary mycotoxin biomarkers are reported in Cameroonian adults. Methods A single first void urine sample was collected from 89 adults (aged range: 28–85, male 39, female 50) from the city of Yaoundé, Centre Region, Cameroon. Urines were tested for eight distinct mycotoxins using measures of both parent compounds and/or their metabolites by Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results Altogether seven distinct mycotoxins, aflatoxin, fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, nivalenol, ochratoxin A and citrinin, (or their metabolites) were observed in urine samples. At least one mycotoxin was detected in all of the urine samples, 87 (97.8%) of which were above the method’s quantification limit. Aflatoxin M1 was detected in 42% (n.d. − 0.21 µg L− 1) of samples of which about a quarter additionally contained fumonisin B1. Of the remaining toxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, nivalenol and citrinin were present in 78%, 99% 95%, 53%, and 87% of the samples respectively. Alternariol was not detected in any sample. Mixtures of mycotoxins in the samples were frequently observed with 64 samples (72%) containing more than five mycotoxins. Estimates of intake exceeded the TDIs for fumonisin (n = 4), deoxynivalenol (n = 1) and zearalenone (n = 2), no TDI is set for aflatoxin. Conclusions This study reveals frequent co-exposure of Cameroonian individuals to a complex mixture of toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins, with mixtures of aflatoxin and fumonisin a particular priority from a public health standpoint.

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxins are carcinogenic mycotoxins that contaminate many food crops. Maize and groundnuts are prone to aflatoxin contamination, and are the major sources of human exposure to aflatoxins, due to their high intake as staple foods, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Observational studies suggest an association between dietary exposure to aflatoxins during pregnancy and early childhood and linear growth in infants and young children. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects on pre‐ and postnatal growth outcomes when agricultural and nutritional education interventions during the post‐harvest period that aim to reduce aflatoxin exposure are compared to usual support or no intervention. We assessed this in infants, children, and pregnant and lactating women at the household or community level in LMICs. SEARCH METHODS: In July and August 2019, we searched: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Africa‐Wide, LILACS, CAB Abstracts, Agricola, and two trials registers. We also checked the bibliographies of the included studies and contacted relevant mycotoxin organisations and researchers for additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster‐RCTs of agricultural education and nutritional education interventions of any duration, at the household or community level, aimed at reducing aflatoxin intake by infants, children, and pregnant and lactating women, in LMICs during the post‐harvest period, compared to no intervention or usual support. We excluded studies that followed participants for less than four weeks. We assessed prespecified prenatal (at birth) and postnatal growth outcomes (during infancy, childhood, and adolescence), with linear growth (as the primary outcome), infectious disease morbidity, and unintended consequences. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed study eligibility using prespecified criteria, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias of included RCTs. We evaluated the certainty of the evidence using GRADE, and presented the main results in a 'Summary of findings' table. MAIN RESULTS: We included three recent cluster‐RCTs reporting the effects of agricultural education plus post‐harvest technologies, compared to usual agricultural support or no intervention. The participants were pregnant women and their children, lactating women and their infants (< 6 months), women of childbearing age, and young children (< 59 months), from rural, subsistence maize‐farming communities in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Two trials randomised villages to the intervention and control groups, including a total of at least 979 mother‐child pairs from 60 villages. The third trial randomised 420 households, including 189 mother‐child pairs and 231 women of childbearing age. Duration of the intervention and follow‐up ranged between five and nine months. Due to risk of attrition bias, the overall risk of bias was unclear in one trial, and high in the other two trials. None of the included studies addressed the effects of nutritional education on pre‐ and postnatal growth. One trial reported outcomes not prespecified in our review, and we were unable to obtain unpublished growth data from the second trial, even after contacting the authors. The third trial, in lactating women and their infants in Tanzania, reported on the infants' weight‐for‐age z‐score (WAZ) after six months. This trial found that providing agricultural education aimed at changing farmers' post‐harvest practices to reduce aflatoxin exposure, by using demonstrations (e.g. handsorting, de‐hulling of maize, drying sheets, and insecticides), may improve WAZ in infants from these farmers' households, on average, by 0.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16 to 0.98; 1 study; 249 participants; very low‐certainty evidence), compared to infants from households where the farmers received routine agricultural extension services. Another way of reporting the effect on WAZ is to compare the proportion of underweight infants (WAZ > 2 SD below the reference median value) per group. This trial found that the intervention may reduce the proportion of underweight infants in the intervention households by 6.7% (95% CI ‐12.6 to ‐1.4; 249 participants; very low‐certainty evidence) compared to control households. No studies reported on unintended effects of agricultural and nutritional education. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on the effects on child growth in LMICs of agricultural or nutritional education interventions that reduce aflatoxin exposure was very limited; no included study reported on linear growth. Very low‐certainty evidence suggested that agricultural education aimed at changing farmers' post‐harvest practices to reduce aflatoxin exposure by using demonstrations, may result in an increase in WAZ, when compared to usual or no education.

Low moisture content ready-to-eat foods vended in Nigerian markets could be pre-packaged or packaged at point of sale. These foods are widely and frequently consumed across Nigeria as quick foods. Despite their importance in the daily diets of Nigerians, a comprehensive study on the diversity of fungi, fungal metabolite production potential, and mycotoxin contamination in the foods has not yet been reported. Therefore, this study assessed the diversity of fungi in 70 samples of low moisture content ready-to-eat foods [cheese balls, garri (cassava-based), granola (a mix of cereals and nuts) and popcorn] in Nigeria by applying a polyphasic approach including morphological examination, genera/species-specific gene marker sequencing and secondary metabolite profiling of fungal cultures. Additionally, mycotoxin levels in the foods were determined by LC–MS/MS. Fungal strains (n = 148) were recovered only from garri. Molecular analysis of 107 representative isolates revealed 27 species belonging to 12 genera: Acremonium, Allophoma, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Microdochium, Penicillium, Sarocladium, Talaromyces, and Tolypocladium in the Ascomycota, and Fomitopsis and Trametes in the Basidiomycota. To the best of our knowledge Allophoma, Fomitopsis, Microdochium, Tolypocladium, and Trametes are reported in African food for the first time. A total of 21 uncommon metabolites were found in cultures of the following species: andrastin A and sporogen AO1 in Aspergillus flavus; paspalin in A. brunneoviolaceus; lecanoic acid and rugulusovin in A. sydowii; sclerotin A in P. citrinum and Talaromyces siamensis; barceloneic acid, festuclavine, fumigaclavine, isochromophilons (IV, VI, and IX), ochrephilone, sclerotioramin, and sclerotiorin in P. sclerotium; epoxyagroclavine, infectopyron, methylorsellinic acid and trichodermamide C in P. steckii; moniliformin and sporogen AO1 in P. copticola; and aminodimethyloctadecanol in Tolypocladium. Twenty-four mycotoxins in addition to other 73 fungal and plant toxins were quantified in the foods. In garri, cheeseballs, popcorn and granola were 1, 6, 12, and 23 mycotoxins detected, respectively. Deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, moniliformin, aflatoxins and citrinin contaminated 37, 31, 31, 20, and 14% of all food samples, respectively. Overall, citrinin had the highest mean concentration of 1481 μg/kg in the foods, suggesting high citrinin exposures in the Nigerian populace. Fungal and mycotoxin contamination of the foods depend on pre-food and post-food processing practices.

Animal milk types in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are processed into varieties of products using different traditional methods and are widely consumed by households to support nutritional intake and diet. Dairy products contain several microorganisms, their metabolites, and other chemical compounds, some with health benefits and many others considered as potential health hazards. Consumption of contaminated milk products could have serious health implications for consumers. To access the safety of milk products across SSA, studies in the region investigating the occurrences of pathogens as well as chemical compounds such as heat stable toxins and veterinary drug residues in animal milk and its products were reviewed. This is done with a holistic view in light of the emerging exposome paradigm for improving food safety and consumer health in the region. Herein, we showed that several published studies in SSA applied conventional and/or less sensitive methods in detecting microbial species and chemical contaminants. This has serious implications in food safety because the correct identity of a microbial species and accurate screening for chemical contaminants is crucial for predicting the potential human health effects that undermine the benefits from consumption of these foods. Furthermore, we highlighted gaps in determining the extent of viral and parasitic contamination of milk products across SSA as well as investigating multiple classes of chemical contaminants. Consequently, robust studies should be conducted in this regard. Also, efforts such as development cooperation projects should be initiated by all stakeholders including scientists, regulatory agencies, and policy makers to improve the dairy product chain in SSA in view of safeguarding consumer health.

Fungi and mycotoxin contamination of cocoa beans during fermentation and storage may constitute a hazard in the cocoa value chain and risk to consumers of its products. In this study, fungal profile and secondary metabolite patterns in two cocoa bean hybrids, F and T series, during fermentation and storage were determined. Additionally, secondary metabolite production by the recovered fungi in the beans was examined in culture media. Fungal isolates spanned six genera and eight species: Aspergillus niger, A. tamarii, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium citrinum, Pseudopithomyces palmicola, Simplicillium sp., Talaromyces atroroseus and Talaromyces sp.. In both hybrids, Aspergilli (38%) dominated the other fungi while more than one half of all the fungal isolates were from the beans in storage. Among the diverse secondary metabolites produced in media by the isolates were uncommon compounds, e.g. aspulvinone E produced by A. niger, aspterric acid by P. variotii, scalusamid A and sydowinin A by P. citrinum, norlichexanthone and siccanol by Simplicillium, and fallacinol and orsellinic acid by Talaromyces. The strains of P. citrinum produced up to 372 mg/kg citrinin. Forty-four fungal metabolites were quantified in both bean hybrids across the various processing stages, with about 86% occurring in the fermented beans stored for 30 days. The nephrotoxic citrinin, which was not previously reported in cocoa beans worldwide, was the only mycotoxin found in the fermented beans at overall mean concentration of 368 μg/kg. Additionally, its metabolite, dihydrocitrinone, was detected in fermented and stored beans. Consumption of freshly fermented cocoa beans may result in citrinin exposure. Appropriate fungal and mycotoxin control measures are proposed.

Despite the efforts to control mycotoxin contamination worldwide, extensive contamination has been reported to occur in food and feed. The contamination is even more intense due to climate changes and different stressors. This study examined the impact of fullerol C60(OH)24 nanoparticles (FNP) (at 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ng mL−1) on the secondary metabolite profile of the most relevant foodborne mycotoxigenic fungi from genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Alternaria and Penicillium, during growth in vitro. Fungi were grown in liquid RPMI 1640 media for 72 h at 29 °C, and metabolites were investigated by the LC-MS/MS dilute and shoot multimycotoxin method. Exposure to FNP showed great potential in decreasing the concentrations of 35 secondary metabolites; the decreases were dependent on FNP concentration and fungal genus. These results are a relevant guide for future examination of fungi-FNP interactions in environmental conditions. The aim is to establish the exact mechanism of FNP action and determine the impact such interactions have on food and feed safety.

Exposure to natural food contaminants during infancy may influence health consequences later in life. Hence, breast milk may serve as a vehicle to transport these contaminants, including mycotoxins, from mothers to their infants. Analytical methods mostly focused on single exposures in the past, thus neglecting co-occurrences and mixture effects. Here, we present a highly sensitive multi-biomarker approach by a sophisticated combination of steps during sample preparation including a Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction followed by a solid phase extraction (SPE) cleanup and utilizing stable isotopes for compensating challenging matrix effects. The assay was validated in-house, reaching limits of detection (LOD) for all 34 analytes in the range of 0.1 to 300 ng/L with satisfying extraction efficiencies (75–109%) and stable intermediate precisions (1–18%) for most analytes. Compared to a similar multi-mycotoxin assay for breast milk, LOD values were decreased by a factor of 2–60x enabling the assessment of chronic low-dose exposures. The new method was applied to a small set of Nigerian breast milk samples (n = 3) to compare results with already published data. Concentration levels of samples that were found to be contaminated before could be confirmed. In addition, other mycotoxins were determined in all three samples, for example the newly investigated alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) was found for the first time in this biological fluid at concentrations up to 25 ng/L. Moreover, in a pooled Austrian sample obtained from a milk bank, trace amounts of multiple mycotoxins including AME (1.9 ng/L), beauvericin (5.4 ng/L), enniatin B (4.7 ng/L), enniatin B1 (

Food safety encompasses the elimination of biological, chemical, and physical hazards along the food chain; however, climate change, an abnormal change in weather conditions, is a threat to food safety due to irregularities in the elements of weather essential for food production. Such factors include elevated atmospheric carbon (IV) oxide (CO2), precipitation, rainfall, and temperature. Considering that the aim of food safety is to eliminate food hazards along the food chain, it is threatened by climate change in several ways, resulting in adverse effects such as severe consequences for livestock production, harmful algal bloom, mycotoxins (produced by mycotoxigenic fungi on crops), residues of pesticides and tenacious contaminants, and pathogenic microorganisms from contaminated water. These climate changes include landslides and avalanches, drought and extreme heat waves, drought, heavy precipitation, flooding and tropical storms, ocean warming, climate change related acidification, and changes in ocean salinity. Therefore, there is a great need to employ adaptive strategies such as the establishment of a food safety management programme which would expound on the need to detect food hazards in food as a result of climate change. This programme should include setting up awareness for consumers, the improvement of epidemiological surveillance, improved co-ordination among food safety organizations, public health officials, and veterinary officials, amongst others. Thus, to achieve the sustainable development goal two, of eradicating hunger, it is imperative to harness the strategies for reducing the food safety hazards associated with climate change.

Aflatoxin contamination of maize is a serious food safety problem worldwide. Despite the widespread consumption of maize in Nigeria, there is limited data on aflatoxin contents of maize vended in open markets in Ondo state, Nigeria. A total of 140 maize samples randomly purchased from major markets in four locations in Ondo state, were screened for total aflatoxins using an ELISA method. Exposure and health risk assessments were performed for the maize consumers by the deterministic and Margin of exposure (MOE) approaches, respectively. About 99% of the maize were contaminated with total aflatoxins (range: 0.65–265 µg/kg; mean: 125.9 µg/kg). Aflatoxin levels exceeding the 4 µg/kg set by the European Union for total aflatoxins were found in 88% of the maize whilst more than one half contained at least 100 µg/kg aflatoxins. The average probable daily intake values were 830, 332 and 138 ng/kg bw/day for the average children, adolescent and adult populations, respectively. Consequently, MOEs for the respective populations were 0.20, 0.51 and 1.23, suggesting a high level of health risk for consumers of maize vended in open markets in Ondo state due to high aflatoxin levels. Maize farmers and households in Ondo state need urgent aflatoxin mitigation interventions.

Mycological investigation of various foods (mainly cowpea, groundnut, maize, rice, sorghum) and agricultural soils from two states in north-central Nigeria (Nasarawa and Niger), was conducted in order to understand the role of filamentous fungi in food contamination and public health. A total of 839 fungal isolates were recovered from 84% of the 250 food and all 30 soil samples. Preliminary identifications were made, based on macro- and micromorphological characters. Representative strains (n = 121) were studied in detail using morphology and DNA sequencing, involving genera/species-specific markers, while extrolite profiles using LC-MS/MS were obtained for a selection of strains. The representative strains grouped in seven genera (Aspergillus, Fusarium, Macrophomina, Meyerozyma, Neocosmospora, Neotestudina and Phoma). Amongst the 21 species that were isolated during this study was one novel species belonging to the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex, F. madaensesp. nov., obtained from groundnut and sorghum in Nasarawa state. The examined strains produced diverse extrolites, including several uncommon compounds: averantinmethylether in A. aflatoxiformans; aspergillimide in A. flavus; heptelidic acid in A. austwickii; desoxypaxillin, kotanin A and paspalitrems (A and B) in A. aflatoxiformans, A. austwickii and A. cerealis; aurasperon C, dimethylsulochrin, fellutanine A, methylorsellinic acid, nigragillin and pyrophen in A. brunneoviolaceus; cyclosporins (A, B, C and H) in A. niger; methylorsellinic acid, pyrophen and secalonic acid in A. piperis; aspulvinone E, fonsecin, kojic acid, kotanin A, malformin C, pyranonigrin and pyrophen in A. vadensis; and all compounds in F. madaense sp. nov., Meyerozyma, Neocosmospora and Neotestudina. This study provides snapshot data for prediction of food contamination and fungal biodiversity exploitation.

The mycotoxin profile of 135 raw milk samples from camel (n = 25), cow (n = 23) and goat (n = 87) in Nigeria was assessed by an ultra-sensitive LC-MS/MS method. Four, seven and 17 of the tested 36 mycotoxins were detected in camel, cow and goat milk, respectively. Among these were aflatoxin P1, alternariol monomethyl ether, citrinin, dihydrocitrinone, enniatins, ochratoxin α and sterigmatocystin reported for the first time in animal milk. The regulated aflatoxin M1 contaminated all cow milk (max: 81 ng/L) and 49% of goat milk (max: 3108 ng/L) samples, with 13% and 55%, respectively, exceeding the 50 ng/L EU limit. Aflatoxin M1 was not detected in camel milk samples. Overall, at least one mycotoxin was detected in 97% of all samples; beauvericin (87%) being the most frequent. Raw animal milk presents an additional source of mycotoxin exposures in the Nigerian populace. Consequently, mycotoxin mitigation should also target the dairy food chain.

The water soluble fullerene C60 daughter product - fullerols C60(OH)24 (FNP) possesses a great potential of modifying secondary metabolites biosynthesis. In order to clarify the extent of interaction, the impact of FNP (10, 100 and 1000 ng mL−1) on aflatoxin production and the available precursors of biosynthesis pathway from Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3251 was determined, in both the mycelia and yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium, during a 168-hour growth period at 29 °C in the dark. The FNP of 8 nm in diameter, and with a zeta potential of −33 mV affected mycelial growth at 1000 ng mL−1 while conidia production was slightly affected at 10 ng mL−1. The FNP effect on aflatoxin and it biosynthetic precursors was concentration dependent and alteration of the sterigmatocystin (ST) export from the cell was observed. Most of the monitored aflatoxin precursors, except norsolorinic acid, were detected in both mycelia and YES medium. However, observed precursor concentrations were much higher in mycelia, with exception of ST. The study shows the loss of FNP antioxidative effect after 120 hours of growth, and strong concentration dependent aflatoxigenic effect after that time. Thus, this data is relevant to guide future considerations on FNP-fungal interactions in the environments and on risk assessment.

Objective: To correlate the levels of bladder tumour antigen (BTA) with aflatoxin M1 (AFM) in a human population in Nigeria. Subjects and methods: A pilot, observational study was conducted with 22 human subjects randomly recruited from a Nigerian rural community. Serum and first morning urine of participants were analysed for human BTA and AFM1, respectively, using quantitative ELISA assays. Results: All the subjects were positive to AFM1 (mean = 0.235 ± 0.072 ng/mL) while 19 were positive to BTA (mean = 2.340 ± 1.741 ng/mL). A negative relationship occurred between human BTA and AFM level (r = −0.239; P = 0.285). Human BTA (2.86 ± 2.43 ng/mL; P = 0.306) and AFM1 (0.258 ± 0.065 ng/mL; P = 0.643) were higher in subjects 1–20 years. The two biomarkers were not also associated with sexes of the participants ( P > 0.05), although they were higher in the female subjects. Conclusion: This study showed that there may not be a connection between aflatoxin exposure and human BTA which is one of the biomarkers of bladder cancer. Keywords: Bladder tumor antigen; Aflatoxin M1; Association; Bladder cancer pathophysiology; Nigeria

The presence and reduction of multiple mycotoxins and metabolites during the processing of white and yellow maize varieties into ogi were determined by a robust liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method. The levels of 16 mycotoxins and their metabolites were significantly reduced (on the average by 90%) by steeping (fermentation), draining the steep water/fermented-grain washing, and wet-milling/sieving. Mycotoxin reduction during ogi production from both maize varieties varied insignificantly by steeping duration; however, ogi from 48 h of steeping contained the least residual level of most mycotoxins. Whilst the nutritional parameters of ogi changed insignificantly based on steeping duration, yellow maize processed after 48 h of steeping yielded a product with better organoleptic properties than other ogi samples. This research provides highly relevant insights into the processing and safety of ogi considering the high dependence on this maize product by the populations in sub-Saharan Africa, especially children during their first 1000 days of life.

African traditional beverages are widely consumed food-grade liquids processed from single or mixed grains (mostly cereals) by simple food processing techniques, of which fermentation tops the list. These beverages are very diverse in composition and nutritional value and are specific to different cultures and countries. The grains from which home-processed traditional beverages are made across Africa are often heavily contaminated with multiple mycotoxins due to poor agricultural, handling, and storage practices that characterize the region. In the literature, there are many reports on the spectrum and quantities of mycotoxins in crops utilized in traditional beverage processing, however, few studies have analyzed mycotoxins in the beverages themselves. The available reports on mycotoxins in African traditional beverages are mainly centered on the finished products with little information on the process chain (raw material to final product), fate of the different mycotoxins during processing, and exposure estimates for consumers. Regulations targeting these local beverages are not in place despite the heavy occurrence of mycotoxins in their raw materials and the high consumption levels of the products in many homes. This paper therefore comprehensively discusses for the 1st time the available data on the wide variety of African traditional beverages, the mycotoxins that contaminate the beverages and their raw materials, exposure estimates, and possible consequent effects. Mycotoxin control options and future directions for mycotoxin research in beverage production are also highlighted.

Cereals, legumes and nuts are widely produced and consumed in Nigeria. Despite the availability of these food crops, their safety is often compromised by the presence of mycotoxins. In Nigeria, mixtures of several mycotoxins, including the highly carcinogenic aflatoxins together with fumonisins, ochratoxins and the trichothecenes, commonly co-occur in cereals and nuts than in legumes, thus, posing serious health risks to consumers. Physical interventions such as hand-sorting, cleaning/washing and other simple control measures (e.g., winnowing) could be effective to reduce mycotoxin exposures especially in resource-scarce rural areas. However, food crops are frequently stored prior to or after applying these measures. Hence, if storage conditions are inappropriate, other intervention strategies may fail due to increased accumulation of mycotoxins under poor storage. Moreover, poor storage practices may encourage infestation by insects and pests that can cause grain damage leading to contamination by toxigenic fungi. In addition, the market value of such grains will be adversely affected and this can contribute to economic loss and poverty at household level. This review provides data on mycotoxin contamination of grains in Nigeria, mycotoxins in biological fluids, and showcases various poor grain storage practices. Furthermore, viable alternatives for improved grain storage, which can be applied in Nigeria, were suggested as a means to reduce mycotoxin exposure and to safeguard consumer health.

The levels of mycotoxin contamination in 78 ear rot infected maize sampled from nine states of northern Nigeria were determined by a straight-forward LC-MS/MS-based ‘dilute and shoot’ approach. Overall, 93 metabolites were identified whereof most can be assigned either to Aspergillus or Fusarium toxins with 37 and 34% occurrence respectively. Fusarium toxins typically occurred in higher concentrations above 320,000 μg/kg for fumonisin B1 (FB1) and 1,000,000 μg/kg for hydrolysed FB1. The fumonisins (FB1, FB2 and FB4) were also most widespread, occurring in all samples. Aflatoxin B1 (mean: 800 μg/kg) was found in samples from all states, but in 63% of all samples. Less frequently reported aflatoxins (AFM1 and AFP1) were identified at a comparatively low level in the samples exhibiting the highest aflatoxin levels. Citrinin, cyclopiazonic acid, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone also occurred in the samples. Total fumonisins, AFB1, total aflatoxin and OTA levels exceeded the EU limits in 76, 50, 47 and 1.3% of all samples respectively. The wide array of metabolites and exceptionally high concentrations of mycotoxins pose a substantial risk to food and feed safety in the event that the grains enter the animal and human food chain which is common in rural settings.

In this study, 81 samples of two cowpea varieties (brown: 54; white: 27) collected from various markets in southwestern Nigeria were examined for fungal and mycotoxin contamination. Moulds belonging to