Mycotoxin Contamination of Food and Associated Health Risk in Cameroon: A 25-years Review (1993-2018)

ABSTRACT

The Gross Domestic Product of Cameron is partially based on agricultural products. Crops like maize, peanuts, beans, cassava, cocoa and coffee are the most cultivated ones. A high portion of this production is locally consumed, and the other part is exported to foreign countries in order to balance the economy. Postharvest losses due to fungal contamination and the presence of mycotoxins in food represent some of the most important problems this producing country government and populations are facing. The analysis of food from animal or vegatal origin in this country during the last 25 years have highlighted the presence of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol in some cases. This paper reviews the effects of mycotoxins on human health and associated regulations, their occurrence in food commodities from Cameroon, as well as the dietary exposure of consuming populations and the results obtained from their bio-monitoring.