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- Evaluation of corn drying and storage techniques to mitigate damage and total aflatoxin contamination in MozambiquePublication . Matusse, Cláudio ; Bila, João; Macuamule, Custódia; Sampaio, Ana; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, PaulaContamination of corn by molds and aflatoxins is a major problem in Mozambique, and appropriate drying and storage of this essential food crop is crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different drying and storage techniques traditionally employed by smallholder farmers in the province of Gaza, Mozambique, in preventing degradation and aflatoxin contamination of corn. Two trials, one for drying and one for storage, were carried out in 2024 and 2025, based on the information resulting from interviews applied to 90 farmers. For corncob drying, three methods were tested: ground, straw mat and tarpaulin. For grain storage, hermetic (metallic drums and PICS bags) and non-hermetic (raffia bags and traditional barns) methods were tested for 12 months of storage. Grain moisture, damage and total aflatoxins were evaluated. All drying methods resulted in a sharp corn moisture reduction, but tarpaulin drying showed the lowest grain damage. No significant differences were observed in aflatoxin content between drying methods. For storage, corn grains (initial 12 % moisture content) stored in metallic drums and hermetic bags were intact after 12 months, while storage in traditional barns and raffia bags resulted in highly (60-80 %) and completely (100 %) damaged grain after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Corn stored in raffia bags showed the highest aflatoxin contamination levels. This study confirmed tarpaulin and hermetic technologies as the most effective methods of corn drying and storage. However, information, demonstration and training are still required for farmers to implement these technologies, which are more expensive than the less effective ones.
- Contamination by aflatoxins in different food matrices produced and consumed in Mozambique.Publication . Matusse, Cláudio ; Macuamule, Custódia; Bila, João; Sampaio, A.; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, Pedro JoãoMycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by various moulds that frequently contaminate food worldwide, being significant contributors to food losses in developing countries. In Mozambique, there is no comprehensive knowledge of the risk of mycotoxins in the country, nor structured actions to reduce the impacts of mycotoxins and promote health and food security in disadvantaged populations. This research aimed to analyse the level of contamination by aflatoxins in different food matrices produced and consumed in southern Mozambique. Ten samples were collected from each matrix (maize, rice, and peanut) in each of the 3 districts (Chongoene, Manjacaze and Chókwe) of Gaza province, and 10 peanut samples in each of the 3 districts (Massinga, Inhambane and Inharrime) of Inhambane province, in a total of 120 samples. Samples were collected between January and June 2023 from local markets and producers. Samples were analysed for total aflatoxins using the lateral flow strip, AgraStrip® ProWATEX® (Romer Labs) method. Results showed that, from all matrices, the highest levels of aflatoxins were found in maize, with averages ranging from 369.2 (in Manjacaze) to 1,972.6 ug/kg (in Chokwe). Average aflatoxin levels in rice ranged between 1.2 (Chongoene) and 63.08 ug/kg (Manjacaze). Peanuts from the province of Inhambane were more contaminated than those from Gaza, with averages ranging from 5.6 (Manjacaze, Gaza) to 95 ug/kg (Inhambane). Considering that the maximum admissible levels for total aflatoxins recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for cereals and pulses is 15 ug/kg, the level of aflatoxin contamination in food produced and consumed in southern Mozambique is high and constitutes a public health risk for the population. Therefore, risk mitigation strategies are urgently needed.
- Isolation of filamentous fungi from different food matrices from Angola and MozambiquePublication . Dias, Teresa; Matusse, Cláudio ; Carvalho, Susana; Silva, Beatriz; Soares, Célia; Lucamba, Zelda; Afonso, Sandra; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, PaulaAgriculture remains the main economic activity in most African countries. However, crops are often contaminated with fungi that can cause diseases or produce mycotoxins, which is a major concern to food safety and security. Little is known about the mycotoxigenic fungi contaminating the most relevant staples in Mozambique and Angola. The aim of this work was to isolate and identify fungi from three food commodities – corn, peanuts and beans – and understand if they are a source of mycotoxin exposure to the populations, as these products are fundamental to the local food diet, and important to the economy. Samples of corn from Mozambique, and samples of peanuts and beans from Angola (four samples of each) were analysed for fungal contamination. Samples were also surveyed for aflatoxins using the AgraStrip® Pro WATEX® (Romer) method. Twenty-five grains of each sample were directly plated onto DRBC, and filamentous fungi were isolated after 5 to 7 days of incubation at 25 °C. A total of 56 fungal isolates representing the various fungal morphotypes were molecularly identified by Sanger sequencing of the ITS region. The microbiota of all samples was mainly composed of Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp., many of them belonging to mycotoxigenic species. Phytopathogenic fungi of four genera – Lasiodiplodia sp., Macrophomina sp., Nigrospora sp. and Pseudocercospora sp. – were also identified. Most species were common to all types of samples. Aflatoxins were detected in all samples.
- Contamination by aflatoxins in different food matrices produced and consumed in MozambiquePublication . Matusse, Cláudio ; Macuamule, Custódia; Bila, João; Sampaio, Ana; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, PaulaMycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by various moulds that frequently contaminate food worldwide, being significant contributors to food losses in developing countries. In Mozambique, there is no comprehensive knowledge of the risk of mycotoxins in the country, nor structured actions to reduce the impacts of mycotoxins and promote health and food security in disadvantaged populations. This research aimed to analyse the level of contamination by aflatoxins in different food matrices produced and consumed in southern Mozambique. Ten samples were collected from each matrix (maize, rice, and peanut) in each of the 3 districts (Chongoene, Manjacaze and Chókwe) of Gaza province, and 10 peanut samples in each of the 3 districts (Massinga, Inhambane and Inharrime) of Inhambane province, in a total of 120 samples. Samples were collected between January and June 2023 from local markets and producers. Samples were analysed for total aflatoxins using the lateral flow strip, AgraStrip® Pro WATEX® (Romer Labs) method. Results showed that, from all matrices, the highest levels of aflatoxins were found in maize, with averages ranging from 369.2 (in Manjacaze) to 1,972.6 ug/kg (in Chokwe). Average aflatoxin levels in rice ranged between 1.2 (Chongoene) and 63.08 ug/kg (Manjacaze). Peanuts from the province of Inhambane were more contaminated than those from Gaza, with averages ranging from 5.6 (Manjacaze, Gaza) to 95 ug/kg (Inhambane). Considering that the maximum admissible levels for total aflatoxins recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for cereals and pulses is 15 ug/kg, the level of aflatoxin contamination in food produced and consumed in southern Mozambique is high and constitutes a public health risk for the population. Therefore, risk mitigation strategies are urgently needed.
- Occurrence of aflatoxins in food commodities produced and consumed in Angola and MozambiquePublication . Matusse, Cláudio ; Tolentino, Aritson D.S.; Lucamba, Zelda; Afonso, Sandra; Venâncio, Armando; Bila, João; Macuamule, Custódia; Rodrigues, PaulaAflatoxins, the mycotoxins produced by molds from the genus Aspergillus sect. Flavi that infest food and feed commodities, are a pressing issue in most African countries and their presence has led to a surge in health problems and food insecurity. The lack of effective monitoring and control in the Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP) has resulted in the underestimation of these mycotoxins. !e present work aimed to determine the occurrence of total aflatoxins (AFs) in several agricultural products – corn, beans, cassava flour, peanuts and rice – produced and consumed in the provinces of Cuanza Sul, Angola, and of Chongoene and Gaza, Mozambique. During 2023 and 2024, 236 samples (96 from Angola and 140 from Mozambique) were collected from local markets and analyzed for AFs using the lateral flow strip AgraStrip® Pro WATEX® (Romer) method. For Mozambique, 44% of all samples were positive for AFs (median=4.9 µg/kg). The highest incidence and contamination levels were found in corn, with all samples contaminated, ranging from the LOD to as high as 9200 µg/kg (median=26.9 µg/kg). Of these, 63% were contaminated above the Maximum Tolerable Limit (MTL) established by the Codex Alimentarius (15 µg/kg).