Africa – A new food safety project is ready to start
In September 2018 a three-year project to tackle mycotoxin-related food safety issues in Africa is scheduled thanks to a European-African partnership with a budget of almost €800,000 ($915,000).
The goal of the project is to find safe options for aflatoxin and fumonisin-contaminated food and feed as to reduce human exposure to fungi-produced mycotoxins from animal protein sources. In the meantime the projects will promote education and awareness to understand mycotoxin-associated health risks in humans and animals.
Aflatoxin M1 contamination in milk is a big issue in sub-Saharian countries just as mycotoxins, produced by molds that can grow on a variety of crops and foodstuffs including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, apples and coffee beans, often under warm and humid conditions.
The European expertise and technologies will support the African partners to strengthen their capacity to tackle the mycotoxin problem.
Source: MYTOX-SOUTH consortium