Kenya’s ugali scare as investigative documentary reveals aflatoxin contamination of maize products

  • 17th November 2019
  • by secretary
Paepard
10 November 2019. The Kenyan NTV aired an explosive exposé dubbed ‘White Alert’. The exposé by NTV Investigations Desk on aflatoxin contamination of maize products has caused a wave of panic and concern in Kenya.

  • The ‘White Alert’ highlighted the dangerously high amounts of the fungi, which is known to cause various cancers, in Kenya’s staple food. 
  • The exposé came a day after Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) suspended licences of five maize millers over the sale of aflatoxin-contaminated flour.
  • In the 90-minute investigative documentary, a former Member of Parliament brought to light how former Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director tried to stop poisonous maize from being released into the market.
  • The documentary benefited among others from the clarity of the exposé by IITA’s Charity Mutegi. 
See also: 
11/11. Daily Nation. WhiteAlert: All you need to know about aflatoxins

Related:
2019. Association of detection of aflatoxin in plasma of Kenyan women with increased detection of oncogenic HPV.

  • Women who ingest aflatoxin may be more likely to have persistent infections with oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) type. 
  • Only a small proportion of HPV-infected women develop cervical cancer and other cofactors may increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. 
  • Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women living in Africa. 
Related:
Mycotoxins. Impact and Management StrategiesEdited by Patrick Berka Njobeh ; Co-editor: Francois Stepman – Published: August 28th 2019

This Edited Volume Mycotoxins – Impact and Management Strategies is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field of Mycotoxicology. The book comprises of single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in this research area.


Source: PAEPARD FEED