Safeguarding Groundnuts from Contamination
Saturday, 2024/06/15 | 06:03:55
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ICRISAT New; June 7 2024
This World Food Safety Day, 7 June 2024, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) sheds light on the health risks of aflatoxin contamination. In line with this year's theme, "Prepare for the Unexpected," the organization underscores successful farm-level interventions to tackle this issue.
Groundnut kernels, prized for their oil content, are a nutritional powerhouse, rich in protein, antioxidants, essential minerals, and vitamins, and a staple in diets worldwide. Developing countries produce nearly 95% of the world's groundnuts, with India and China contributing the majority. Other key producers include Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, and Argentina (FAO,2022). Aflatoxin's Impact on Human HealthThe aflatoxin-producing strains that commonly infect groundnuts are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified them as Group 1 carcinogens, a proven human carcinogen, based on their toxicity and prevalence in milk.
Drinking milk from dairy animals that have eaten feed contaminated with aflatoxin can increase the risk of cancer. This is a significant food safety concern globally.
ICRISAT's Solutions
See https://pressroom.icrisat.org/safeguarding-groundnuts-from-contamination |
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