Aflatoxins Challenge in Tanzania Dr. Martin E. Kimanya Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology Regional Workshop on the Aflatoxin Challenge in Eastern and Southern Africa, Lilongwe-Malawi, 11-13 March 2014

Occurrence aflatoxins in cereal and oil crop harvests of 1987 and 1988 in Tanzania No of Samples Positive samples(%) Samples above ML (%) Maize 472 11.2 52.8 Groundnuts 202 50.0 90.1 Sunflower seed oil 129 28.6 71.4 ML = 20 µg/kg

Occurrence aflatoxins in other foods in Tanzania Aflatoxin M1 in cow’s milk, determined in 92% of samples at levels ranging from 0.005–0.855 µg/kg Aflatoxin B1 in Fish, at levels ranging from 7-19 µg/kg Aflatoxin B1 in opaque beer, at 10-50 µg/L

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in breast milk: occurrence, percentage of the milk exceeding EU MLs Lactation stage M1 M3 M5 Number of samples 144 122 121 Range (ng/ml) 0.01 - 0.55 0.01 - 0.47 0.01 - 0.34 Median (ng/ml) 0.07 0.08 % exceeding 0.025ng/mla 96 91 a: EU limit for AFM1 contamination in infants food

Prevalence and levels of AF-alb in young children Survey point Prevalence (%) Mean Level (pg/ml) Recruitment 67 4.7 6 months after recruitment 84 12.9 12 months after recruitment 99 23.5

What are the potential solutions for aflatoxin control in Tanzania The Tanzania performs a country and economic assessment in 2012 with PACA support Tanzanian stakeholders came together at the aflatoxin stakeholders’ workshop (co-organized by TFDA and Abt Associates) Actions plans that support adoption of the priority control strategies were sketched out The National Forum for Mycotoxins Control, with a supporting steering committee

Priority Control Strategies for Agriculture Continue to measure, test, and assess the scale of the problem Promote and make available good agricultural/management practices Develop bio-control for Tanzania, keeping in mind the cost implications for poorer farmers Continue research efforts for breeding maize, groundnuts, and other crops for mycotoxin resistance, for availability in the longer time horizon

Priority Control Strategies for Trade Shape the marketplace to improve awareness of the presence and risks of aflatoxin in the food and feed system and create market-based incentives for safer food Improve the formaulation and application of standards relating to aflatoxins in domestic markets Improve policies and procedures for product withdrawal Improve suitability for commerce or trade of susceptible products.

Priority Control Strategies for Public Health Promote proper food handling, processing, and preparation to reduce mycotoxin contamination Achieve universal vaccinations for HBV since liver cancer risk is 30 times higher in HBV-positive populations Routinely monitor mycotoxins in cereal-based weaning foods

Priority Control Strategies for Policy Reform Recommend review and finalization of various policies eg. (1) National Food Security Policy, (2) National Food Safety Policy, (3) National Nutrition Policy Coordinate with relevant ministries and institutions and propose mycotoxin levels for feed Ensure that priority strategies and action plans are included in the business plans of relevant departments and institutions within line ministries

Priority Control Strategies for Policy Reform Raise awareness from the community level up to the decision makers Support more research to fill the current gaps in aflatoxin prevalence Develop and agree on a data collection protocol and require that results from research conducted in Tanzania be shared with the national government and entered into a centralized database

` Thank you