Government addresses the nation concerning the detection of aflatoxin levels in animal feeds, maize grain and mealie meal in the country.

Here are the highlights from the press release by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Mr. Thabo Kawana;

✅Government collected samples from all millers and results will be communicated to public as soon as they are made available.

✅Note that, of the samples so far tested, not all batches were found to be positive and some were negative and therefore, all batches associated to positive tests have been withdrawn and quarantined.

✅Of the samples so far tested, the following brands have been found with elevated levels of aflatoxin:

Pembe – Roller Meal, number 3 meal

Africa Milling – Roller meal and breakfast

Farm Feed – Super Dog meal

Shabco milling

Continental milling

Girad Milling

Busu Milling

Star Milling

✅Hence, the Government has immediately instituted the following control measures:

i. Batches affected and positive have been identified and companies affected notified. The public must be informed that affected companies have fully cooperated with the authorities.

ii. Immediate seizure notices have been issued to the affected companies to withdraw all affected batches from the market.

iii. All affected batches of maize grain, dog food and maize meal have been recalled from the market and quarantined to safeguard consumers. All these contaminated batches will be publicly destroyed.

iv. The sampling efforts have been extended to other parts of the country to ensure comprehensive monitoring and control and to prevent further contamination of the food supply chain.

v. Surveillance has continued to others parts of the country to strengthen prevention and control.

vi. Education and awareness creation especially among farmers and millers on proper storage and processing to prevent aflatoxin contamination.

✅The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and enforce regulatory measures to protect the health and safety of our citizens and animals in order to ensure smooth facilitation of trade.

✅Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi or moulds that are found on agricultural crops such as maize, cassava, cotton seed, millet, rice, sorghum, sunflower seeds, wheat, peanuts and ground nuts.

✅Aflatoxins above acceptable levels are a health risk to both humans and animals.

✅In animals, high levels of aflatoxins can cause sudden death. It is important to mention that dogs are more susceptible to aflatoxin toxicity; that is 4 times more susceptible than pigs and 6 times more susceptible than cattle.

✅In humans, chronic low-level exposure to aflatoxin increases the risk of liver inflammation and that of liver cancer.

✅Ingestion of high levels of aflatoxin exposure can lead to acute liver damage, especially in those with low immune system suppression, and other chronic health issues and adults are more tolerant to aflatoxins than children.

✅The robust surveillance system detected the alarming number of dogs that died due to suspected feed contamination.

✅Post-mortem examinations conducted on the deceased dogs also confirmed aflatoxin toxicity, and laboratory results revealed these findings.

✅The Ministry of Health through its disease surveillance and intelligence wing the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) convened a multisectoral one health team of experts who conducted field investigations and sampling of animal feed, maize grain and mealie meal.

✅This investigation commenced on June 2024 after public alert noticed of sudden death among domestic dogs.

✅This investigation is currently ongoing and Government is gathering more information.