Abstract:
Aflatoxin is a type of mycotoxin originating from fungi that contaminates human food and
animal feeds, causing serious health effects in humans and animals. The study aims to determine
fungal infestation and mycotoxin contamination of human food and animal feeds for public health
initiatives in Bomet County. A quarter of a kilogram of ninety-one samples was taken randomly
from each household and agro vets shops sampled during the study in brown bags to Kenya
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory in a deep freezer before laboratory investigation by
culturing on mycological media. Fungi classification was based on morphological features.
Mycotoxin detection was done using the ELISA-based EnviroLogix QuickTox Kit and the positive
samples, was subjected to High-performance Liquid Chromatography analysis for QC purposes. Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp., Penicillium
spp. and, Xeromyces spp. were isolated from cereals and animal feed. Of all the samples analyzed
34.1% were positive for aflatoxins and 17% of the samples analyzed were exceeding the
acceptable levels. AFB1 and AFB2 were the most commonly identified, the largest proportion of
Aflatoxins ranges from 0 µg/kg to 480 µg/kg. According to the European Union's acceptable limits,
amounts of aflatoxin detected in some foods were unsafe and not fit for human consumption. The
presence of aflatoxins in staple foods poses significant health risks, including hepatocarcinogenic
effects, and has economic implications for food security. Pre-harvest and post-harvest practices
can be applied to prevent or minimize aflatoxin levels in food, such as Crop protection, drying of
cereals, sorting moldy or damaged Kernels, storing food in a dry place, use of fungicides and even
use of gamma rays to radiate crops.
