Browsing by Author "Mohammed, Abdi"

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    Harvest and post-harvest handling practices associated with Fumonisin B1 Contamination in maize (Zea mays L.): dietary exposure and risk characterization in Eastern Ethiopia
    (Springer, 2022-09-30) Mohammed, Abdi; Seid, Awol; Terefe, Habtamu; Cervini, Carla; Verheecke-Vaessen, Carol
    Maize is the main staple food crop in the eastern part of Ethiopia. However, maize loss is a major issue due to fungal contamination especially at the post-harvest stage owing to inadequate handling practices. This study aimed to assess post-harvest handling and awareness against fungal development and fumonisin B1 (FB1) in maize and to calculate risk exposures of FB1. A total of 197 maize samples (grain and flour) were collected from five districts (Haramaya, Kersa, Meta, Oda Bultum, and Tullo). FB1 was detected using LC–MS/MS qTRAP. Exposure assessment was done based on the maize consumption rate per day in Ethiopia for different age groups (infants, children, and adults). Risk characterization depends on the margin of exposure (MoE) combined with the lower confidence limit of the benchmark dose level (BMDL). About 81% of farmers were not physically separating undamaged maize ears with damaged from either birds or fungi. Moreover, 100% were not using improved storage material. In storage samples, FB1 was detected as high as 1058 μg/kg ± 234 in the Kersa district while a minimum of 22.60 μg/kg ± 5.27 in Meta. In flour samples, the maximum FB1 (327 μg/kg) was detected from the Oda Bultum district. The maximum exposure of infants was estimated at Kersa (1131 µg/kg bw/day), followed by Oda Bultum (1073 µg/kg bw/day) and Haramaya (854 µg/kg bw/day). Overall, FB1 exposures ranged from 6.09 to 1131 µg/kg bw/day, which is 3 to 500 µg/kg bw/day higher than the maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 µg/kg bw/day recommended by the World Health Organization. The MoE ranged from 0.15 to 176, with infants being at higher risk than adults. The study highlights the urgent need to enhance growers’ awareness and knowledge of good post-harvest practices to reduce mycotoxin contamination in maize. Further biomarker analysis must be pursued to determine the risk exposure assessment for different age groups in these areas with a priority for the Kersa district.
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    Improvements within the peanut production chain to minimize aflatoxins contamination: an Ethiopian case study
    (Elsevier, 2021-10-15) Cervini, Carla; Verheecke-Vaessen, Carol; He, Tingting; Mohammed, Abdi; Magan, Naresh; Medina, Angel
    Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are a worldwide crop appreciated by consumers and known to have several health benefits (e.g. decreasing risk of cardiovascular diseases, lowering LDL cholesterol). Nonetheless, during the production chain, peanuts can be contaminated by mycotoxigenic fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, responsible for contamination of this commodity with aflatoxins (AFs). Chronic exposure to these mycotoxins is known to have carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive effects, while acute exposure can be fatal. Peanut-based products are considered the “new-gold” in Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) as they are used to produce therapeutic food to fight malnutrition in children in the form of high energy bars (e.g. Plumpy’Nut®). The present study has been focused on an examination of the existing Ethiopian peanut supply chain to identify components that require improvements during pre-harvest, harvesting and post-harvest where practical and affordable intervention practices can be implemented. The lack of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), the use of traditional and rudimentary methods for drying and shelling peanuts, as well as inadequate storage locations are some of the main factors associated with the high contamination of Ethiopian peanuts with AFs. While control of AFs is complex, in-depth examination of existing practices has facilitated an overview of the potential for efficient and low-cost strategies to reduce and minimize these toxin risks in the Ethiopian peanut production chain. This includes the use of Drycard™ as a tool to check moisture content, the creation of homemade solar dryer and wooden nutcrackers, and the use of either the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags or novel bags with slow-release food-grade preservatives. The implementation of some of these approaches should ensure a safer home-grown peanut supply chain that would contribute to the growth of the economy of the country by reducing the high costs of importing such raw materials and supporting the use of local smallholder farmers peanuts. This would have significant economic benefits in the local peanut production chain.