202
12.5 Control of Mycotoxins
Control of mycotoxins is for the purpose of public health importance and economic
improvement in the country. Hence, a number of strategies for reduction and control
of mycotoxins have been considered in different areas of the world including
African countries. The control of mycotoxins in Africa involves (1) prevention of
mold or fungus growth in crops and other feedstuffs; (2) decontamination of
mycotoxin- contaminated feeds/foods as a secondary strategy; and (3) continuous
surveillance of mycotoxins in agricultural crops, animal feedstuffs, and human
foods (Tola and Kebede 2016).
Control of mold growth in foods and feeds can be accomplished by keeping
moisture low, feed fresh, and equipment clean and using mold inhibitors. In addition, control of mycotoxins in animal diets would reduce the likelihood that mycotoxin residues would appear in animal products destined for human consumption
(Akande et al. 2006).
Several preventive measures to minimize mycotoxin contamination in agricultural commodities have been attempted. These can be divided into three broad
categories:
• Plant breeding
• Good agronomic practices
• Detoxification
The problem of ergot contamination of cereals and millets has been successfully
minimized in the past by cultivating varieties of rye, wheat, and pearl millet that are
resistant to the disease. The periodic re-emergence of the problem can be attributed to
the release of varieties which are not resistant to ergot. However, there has been little
success in providing resistant varieties of corn and peanut to minimize the problem of
aflatoxins. Other agronomic approaches such as avoiding water stress, minimizing
insect infestation, and reducing inoculum potential have been suggested and are effective when farmers can implement such practices. Following good agricultural practices
during both preharvest and postharvest conditions would minimize the problem of contamination by mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin, and trichothecene mycotoxins. These include appropriate drying techniques, maintaining proper storage facilities,
and taking care not to expose the grains or oilseeds to moisture during transport and
marketing. The method of segregating contaminated, moldy, shriveled, or insectinfested seeds from sound kernels has been particularly useful in minimizing aflatoxin
contamination in peanuts (Adeyeye 2016; Fox and Howlett 2008).
12.6 Removal of Mycotoxins in Foods
In the feed and food industry, it has become common practice to add mycotoxin
binding agents such as montmorillonite or bentonite clay in order to affectively
adsorb the mycotoxins. To reverse the adverse effects of mycotoxins, the following
criteria are used to evaluate the functionality of any binding additive:
N. M. Abdelmotilib et al.
12.5 Control of Mycotoxins
Control of mycotoxins is for the purpose of public health importance and economic
improvement in the country. Hence, a number of strategies for reduction and control
of mycotoxins have been considered in different areas of the world including
African countries. The control of mycotoxins in Africa involves (1) prevention of
mold or fungus growth in crops and other feedstuffs; (2) decontamination of
mycotoxin- contaminated feeds/foods as a secondary strategy; and (3) continuous
surveillance of mycotoxins in agricultural crops, animal feedstuffs, and human
foods (Tola and Kebede 2016).
Control of mold growth in foods and feeds can be accomplished by keeping
moisture low, feed fresh, and equipment clean and using mold inhibitors. In addition, control of mycotoxins in animal diets would reduce the likelihood that mycotoxin residues would appear in animal products destined for human consumption
(Akande et al. 2006).
Several preventive measures to minimize mycotoxin contamination in agricultural commodities have been attempted. These can be divided into three broad
categories:
• Plant breeding
• Good agronomic practices
• Detoxification
The problem of ergot contamination of cereals and millets has been successfully
minimized in the past by cultivating varieties of rye, wheat, and pearl millet that are
resistant to the disease. The periodic re-emergence of the problem can be attributed to
the release of varieties which are not resistant to ergot. However, there has been little
success in providing resistant varieties of corn and peanut to minimize the problem of
aflatoxins. Other agronomic approaches such as avoiding water stress, minimizing
insect infestation, and reducing inoculum potential have been suggested and are effective when farmers can implement such practices. Following good agricultural practices
during both preharvest and postharvest conditions would minimize the problem of contamination by mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin, and trichothecene mycotoxins. These include appropriate drying techniques, maintaining proper storage facilities,
and taking care not to expose the grains or oilseeds to moisture during transport and
marketing. The method of segregating contaminated, moldy, shriveled, or insectinfested seeds from sound kernels has been particularly useful in minimizing aflatoxin
contamination in peanuts (Adeyeye 2016; Fox and Howlett 2008).
12.6 Removal of Mycotoxins in Foods
In the feed and food industry, it has become common practice to add mycotoxin
binding agents such as montmorillonite or bentonite clay in order to affectively
adsorb the mycotoxins. To reverse the adverse effects of mycotoxins, the following
criteria are used to evaluate the functionality of any binding additive:
N. M. Abdelmotilib et al.