(Ecofin Agency) - Member countries of the East African Community (EAC) are devising a strategy to stop aflatoxin contamination in foods and feeds, Newtimes reports.

The toxin, which infects corn, groundnut, rice, and sorghum, can aggravate malnutrition, stunt children’s growth, weaken the immune system or cause liver cancer.

“The EAC partner states will therefore develop policies to aid in the formulation and implementation of intervention programs to curb the spread of aflatoxins”, Christophe Bazivamo (photo), deputy Secretary General of the EAC indicated.   

He explained that these policies would contribute to the improvement of food and nutritional security as well as to the protection of human and animal health in the region.

Let’s remind that according to the data released by the partnership against aflatoxin in Africa (Partenariat pour la lutte contre l'aflatoxine en Afrique-PACA) Uganda loses $38 million every year due to Aflatoxin contamination. In Kenya, authorities report that 25% of the country’s agriculture production is affected. In addition, the PACA reports, aflatoxin causes losses of exports revenues estimated at about $670 million in Africa.

Espoir Olodo