Nigeria to scale up Mycotoxin testing 

By Zeniat Abubakar Abuja

The Nigerian government says it will continue to advocate for an effective Mycotoxin Testing Programme using rapid testing technology, with potential for scaling up to laboratory-based methods.

The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood stated this in Abuja Nigeria’s capital, during a workshop on the prevention and control of mycotoxins in food and environment.

He said the common occurrence and extensive growth of moulds in homes, schools, offices and especially on food and food products poses great risk to human survival.

According to the Minister, “We must, as a Country, be worried about the risk of environmental exposures experienced by those that consume or are exposed to food and food products contaminated with mycotoxins.”

 “The ingestion of mycotoxin through food and inhalation of mycotoxins and other contaminants in the air might result in lung damage, allergic reactions such as irritation in the respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, and sometimes headaches. Exposure to all these contaminants could have harmful effects on vital organs and consequently on the overall human health and productivity.” the Minister explained.

Prioritise Mycotoxin control
Dr Mahmoud also re-affirmed the need to prioritise mycotoxin control through the use of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, HACCP.

He said the ministry was ready to collaborate with Agriculture and Health Sectors in addressing issues of Mycotoxin-contaminated commodities and fostering the objectives of ONE HEALTH.

Mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus and it is capable of causing disease and death in both humans and other animals.

The Food and Agriculture Organization asserts that more than one-quarter of the World’s Agricultural Produce is contaminated with Mycotoxins.

Confidence Okwuchi