NAFDAC, IITA flag off awareness campaign on aflatoxin

The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the aims of the campaign were to educate consumers, farmers and the industrial sector on the risks and harmful effects of aflatoxin in food and feeds as well as their control/reduction strategies.Dr. Orhii, who was represented by Mrs. Stella Denloye, NAFDAC’s Director of Laboratory Services, said, […]

The Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the aims of the campaign were to educate consumers, farmers and the industrial sector on the risks and harmful effects of aflatoxin in food and feeds as well as their control/reduction strategies.
Dr. Orhii, who was represented by Mrs. Stella Denloye, NAFDAC’s Director of Laboratory Services, said, “the clear objectives are to highlight the extent of aflatoxin contamination of Nigeria’s staple foods and export commodities … the negative economic impact on trade and foreign exchange earnings … and to draw attention to mitigation strategies.
“Produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxins are naturally occurring fungal toxins abundant in the soil that contaminate food products such as maize, groundnut, as well as other crops.