Aflatoxin Contamination in Household Complementary Foods: Risk to Central Tanzanian Children

Abstract

Cereal-based complementary foods are a primary source of nutrition and potential aflatoxin exposure for young children in Tanzania. This study aimed to quantify total aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 contamination in household ready-to-cook complementary food samples and to assess the association between contamination and parental awareness, knowledge, perception, and practice (PKPP) in central Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted across 228 randomly selected households with children aged 6-23 months. Ready-to-cook complementary food samples werecollected and analyzed for total aflatoxin (AFT) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Data on parental PKPP were gathered via an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of aflatoxin contamination based on PKPP and food preparation practices. Significant aflatoxin contamination was detected in the samples. AFT was detected in 37.3% of samples, with levels reaching up to 60.3µg/kg. Critically, 9.6% of total samples exceeded the European Union (EU) regulatory limit of 10µg/kg for AFT in processed cereal-based foods. AFB1 was detected in 15.4% of samples (range: 0.0-38.2µg/kg), with 7.02% exceeding the EU limit of 5µg/kg. Logistic regression models revealed that lower parental awareness (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.23–6.98, p = 0.015), lower knowledge (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.18–6.35, p = 0.019), and lower perception scores (OR = 3.10,95% CI: 1.18–8.17, p = 0.022) were significantly associated with an increased odds of AFB1 contamination in the complementary foods. Furthermore, the use of undehulled flour (flour with the husk still attached) significantly increased the risk of AFB1 contamination (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.12–6.84, p = 0.028) compared to dehulled flour. The high prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in ready-to-cook complementary foods in central Tanzania poses a serious public health risk to infants and young children. Poor parental awareness, knowledge, and risk perception contribute to contamination, highlighting the urgent need for targeted health education and behavior change interventions. Promoting de-hulling of grains before milling, alongside strengthened food safety measures, is essential to reduce aflatoxin exposure and improve child health.