The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised concerns over some poisonous substances that affect grains in the fields and during storages capable of causing death and cancer to both humans and animals.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Ohrii who was represented by the agency’s director laboratory services, Pharmacist Stella Denloye observed that the toxic moulds known as Aflatoxin affects grains like groundnuts, maize, maize flour, peanuts and their products, cassava, meat, egg and milk( from infected animals or birds and their product).
Speaking during a sensitization workshop on Aflatoxin management for farmers and health experts, Denloye noted that “Aflatoxins have been implicated in chronic toxicity and in liver cancer, suppression of the immune system and stunted growth in children”.
“The Rapid Alert System of the European Union (RASFF) often cite exports from Nigeria as having more than tolerable limits of aflatoxins leading to export rejection and poor credibility of Nigerian products,” she added.
Deputy director general, Partnership and Capacity Development of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay said that about N186billion (US$1.2 billion) in commerce is lost annually due to aflatoxin contamination.
According to him African economies lose N69.8billion (US$450 million) to the toxin with women and children mostly affected.
Bandyopadhyay noted that contaminated food if eaten or drank by people or animals they will become sick depending on the amount of mycotoxins consumed.
Daily trust
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