Mycotoxins contamination of market maize and the potential of density sorting in reducing exposure in unregulated food systems in Kenya

Aflatoxins and fumonisins commonly contaminate key food staples in tropical countries, causing recurring acute chronic public health problems. The present study was conducted to assess the potential of a simple device designed for density-based sorting maize its reduce aflatoxins diverse samples naturally contaminated maize. A cross sectional survey conducted, analysing market (n=204) from eight counties Western Kenya. quarter (25%) were with aflatoxin B 1 above legal limit 5 μg/kg nearly half (48%) at levels 2 μg/g. Analysis additional (n=24) Meru County showed that contamination two toxins also common Eastern density sorter used separate grain into heavy light fractions. With an out-sort rate 31%, effective separating by bulk 100-kernel weight (P<0.001). Bulk negatively correlated unsorted (r=-0.20, P<0.01) fractions (r=-0.32, P<0.01). Density reducing fumonisins; >1 μg/g, (accepted) fraction had 66% lower than After sorting, fumonisin differed average 8.38 μg/g However, not significantly highly contaminated. equipment could be adopted local small-scale millers has Additional complementary technologies, such as size screening spectral might improve effectiveness