AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION OF NIGERIAN FOODS AND FEEDINGSTUFFS

Human foods and animal feeds, and ingredients used for their preparati on or formulation in Nigeria, were surveyed between 1988 and 1991 for the presence of the fungal metabolite and animal carcinogen aflatoxin. Groundnut and groundnut-containing materials were the most heavily co ntaminated, the highest value (1862 ppb) being found in a groundnut ca ke sample. This mycotoxin was also detected occasionally, but to a les ser extent, in some grains and cereals that are of nutritional importa nce in human foods and the livestock industry in Nigeria. The toxicolo gical implications of this finding are discussed in relation to human health and animal production.