The Silent Killer in Our Food: 10 Root Causes of Aflatoxin Contamination.

Aflatoxins are a hidden but deadly threat in many of the foods we consume daily. The issue goes beyond farming, it’s a public health crisis , an economic burden , and a development challenge . Today, let us shed light on what aflatoxins are, the foods most affected, how and where they develop, and the serious health and economic consequences they carry. Most importantly, we’ll dive deep into the root causes of aflatoxin contamination. What Are Aflatoxins? Aflatoxins are toxic chemical compounds produced by certain types of fungi: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus . These fungi thrive in warm and humid environments and contaminate a wide range of food and feed products. The term "aflatoxins" is derived from Aspergillus flavus toxins . There are four major types: B1, B2, G1, G2 , and two additional derivatives: M1 and M2 which are commonly found in animal products like milk, resulting from animals consuming contami...