PERSPECTIVES ON AFLATOXIN CONTROL FOR HUMAN FOOD AND ANIMAL FEED

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic metaboli tes produced by molds that grow on food and feed. Their toxicity has c aused severe health and economic problems worldwide. Human exposure to aflatoxins can arise from the direct consumption of contaminated comm odities such as corn (maize), peanuts or figs, or from the consumption of foods from animals previously exposed to aflatoxin in feeds (milk and egg products). Food safety monitoring programs for aflatoxins have been established for raw and finished products; these include establi shment of regulatory limits or guidelines, monitoring programs for afl atoxin levels in susceptible products, and decontamination procedures and/or the diversion of contaminated products to lower-risk uses.