Hii habari ni ya kweli , kutokana na namna tunavyohifadhi mahindi yetu bila kufuata kanuni nzuri , aflatoxin au kwa kiswahili Sumu kuvu ni Sumu ambayo kutokana na aina flani ya fungus (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) ambao hukua pole pole kwenye nafaka na nuts ambazo zimehifadhiwa zikiwa hazijakauka vizuri au zikiwa kwenye unyevu
How is dangerous
Aflatoxin B1, which is a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen, which presumptively causes cancer by inducing DNA adducts leading to genetic changes in target liver cells. AFB1 is metabolized by cytochrome-P450 enzymes to the reactive intermediate AFB1-8, 9 epoxide (AFBO) which binds to liver cell DNA, resulting in DNA adducts.
How to prevent aflatoxins
Sorting insect- damaged cobs and cobs having poor husk covering can reduce aflatoxin contamination. Apart from this, winnowing, washing before cooking, and dehulling of maize grains are effective in achieving significant aflatoxin and other mycotoxins removal