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This research focused on biocontrol solution to increase food safety through studying lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which can bind aflatoxins in milk. Aflatoxins are toxic contaminants found in feeds and foods. In milk aflatoxin is found in metabolised form, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Three indigenous LAB Lactobacillus strains and one Lactococcus strain isolated from Kenyan spontaneously fermented foods were tested for their AFM1 binding abilities in different conditions and after different treatments along with two reference Lactobacillus strains. Binding of AFM1 in different concentrations was examined with unconcentrated, concentrated, heat treated and concentrated heat-treated LAB cultures. Observed binding of AFM1 by LAB varied between 11 to 100%, being approximately at the level of 40% throughout the analysis sets. The results of this study suggest that the aflatoxin binding ability by LAB strain is not strongly strain specific and depends on many external and condition variables. Also, the methods used in determination of aflatoxin binding warrant critical evaluation.
S. Ahlberg; P. Kärki; M. Kolmonen; H. Korhonen; V. Joutsjoki. Aflatoxin M1 binding by lactic acid bacteria in milk. World Mycotoxin Journal 2019, 12, 379 -386.
AMA StyleS. Ahlberg, P. Kärki, M. Kolmonen, H. Korhonen, V. Joutsjoki. Aflatoxin M1 binding by lactic acid bacteria in milk. World Mycotoxin Journal. 2019; 12 (4):379-386.
Chicago/Turabian StyleS. Ahlberg; P. Kärki; M. Kolmonen; H. Korhonen; V. Joutsjoki. 2019. "Aflatoxin M1 binding by lactic acid bacteria in milk." World Mycotoxin Journal 12, no. 4: 379-386.
Aflatoxins continue to be a food safety problem globally, especially in developing regions. A significant amount of effort and resources have been invested in an attempt to control aflatoxins. However, these efforts have not substantially decreased the prevalence nor the dietary exposure to aflatoxins in developing countries. One approach to aflatoxin control is the use of binding agents in foods, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been studied extensively for this purpose. However, when assessing the results comprehensively and reviewing the practicality and ethics of use, risks are evident, and concerns arise. In conclusion, our review suggests that there are too many issues with using LAB for aflatoxin binding for it to be safely promoted. Arguably, using binders in human food might even worsen food safety in the longer term.
Sara Ahlberg; Delia Randolph; Sheila Okoth; Johanna Lindahl. Aflatoxin Binders in Foods for Human Consumption—Can This be Promoted Safely and Ethically? Toxins 2019, 11, 410 .
AMA StyleSara Ahlberg, Delia Randolph, Sheila Okoth, Johanna Lindahl. Aflatoxin Binders in Foods for Human Consumption—Can This be Promoted Safely and Ethically? Toxins. 2019; 11 (7):410.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Ahlberg; Delia Randolph; Sheila Okoth; Johanna Lindahl. 2019. "Aflatoxin Binders in Foods for Human Consumption—Can This be Promoted Safely and Ethically?" Toxins 11, no. 7: 410.
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a human carcinogen, is found in milk products and may have potentially severe health impacts on milk consumers. We assessed the risk of cancer and stunting as a result of AFM1 consumption in Nairobi, Kenya, using worst case assumptions of toxicity and data from previous studies. Almost all (99.5%) milk was contaminated with AFM1. Cancer risk caused by AFM1 was lower among consumers purchasing from formal markets (0.003 cases per 100,000) than for low-income consumers (0.006 cases per 100,000) purchasing from informal markets. Overall cancer risk (0.004 cases per 100,000) from AFM1 alone was low. Stunting is multifactorial, but assuming only AFM1 consumption was the determinant, consumption of milk contaminated with AFM1 levels found in this study could contribute to 2.1% of children below three years in middle-income families, and 2.4% in low-income families, being stunted. Overall, 2.7% of children could hypothetically be stunted due to AFM1 exposure from milk. Based on our results AFM1 levels found in milk could contribute to an average of −0.340 height for age z-score reduction in growth. The exposure to AFM1 from milk is 46 ng/day on average, but children bear higher exposure of 3.5 ng/kg bodyweight (bw)/day compared to adults, at 0.8 ng/kg bw/day. Our paper shows that concern over aflatoxins in milk in Nairobi is disproportionate if only risk of cancer is considered, but that the effect on stunting children might be much more significant from a public health perspective; however, there is still insufficient data on the health effects of AFM1.
Sara Ahlberg; Delia Grace; Gideon Kiarie; Yumi Kirino; Johanna Lindahl. A Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 Exposure in Low and Mid-Income Dairy Consumers in Kenya. Toxins 2018, 10, 348 .
AMA StyleSara Ahlberg, Delia Grace, Gideon Kiarie, Yumi Kirino, Johanna Lindahl. A Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 Exposure in Low and Mid-Income Dairy Consumers in Kenya. Toxins. 2018; 10 (9):348.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Ahlberg; Delia Grace; Gideon Kiarie; Yumi Kirino; Johanna Lindahl. 2018. "A Risk Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 Exposure in Low and Mid-Income Dairy Consumers in Kenya." Toxins 10, no. 9: 348.
Delia Grace; Silvia Alonso; Johanna Lindahl; Sara Ahlberg; Ram Pratim Deka; Nico Van Belzen. Detecting pathogens in milk on dairy farms: key issues for developing countries. Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1 2017, 27 -42.
AMA StyleDelia Grace, Silvia Alonso, Johanna Lindahl, Sara Ahlberg, Ram Pratim Deka, Nico Van Belzen. Detecting pathogens in milk on dairy farms: key issues for developing countries. Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1. 2017; ():27-42.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDelia Grace; Silvia Alonso; Johanna Lindahl; Sara Ahlberg; Ram Pratim Deka; Nico Van Belzen. 2017. "Detecting pathogens in milk on dairy farms: key issues for developing countries." Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1 , no. : 27-42.
Certain strains of lactic acid bacteria have been reported to inhibit fungal growth and may so be potential as biocontrol agents. In this study, 171 LAB strains were isolated from traditional fermented Kenyan milk and maize products and tested against aflatoxin-producing A. flavus fungi. The three LAB strains showing highest antifungal activity were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum. None of the strains were able to completely inhibit fungal growth under conditions favorable for fungi and suboptimal for LAB. These conditions probably reduced the growth and metabolic activity of some LAB isolates, as several growth-related aspects like production of antifungal biomolecules and other metabolites contribute to the inhibiting activity. The results suggest that certain LAB strains could be employed in food to control the growth of aflatoxigenic fungi. Further studies to establish the efficacy of the potential LAB strains in fermented products are in progress.
Sara Ahlberg; Vesa Joutsjoki; Sini Laurikkala; Pekka Varmanen; Hannu Korhonen. Aspergillus flavus growth inhibition by Lactobacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented Kenyan milk and maize products. Archives of Microbiology 2016, 199, 457 -464.
AMA StyleSara Ahlberg, Vesa Joutsjoki, Sini Laurikkala, Pekka Varmanen, Hannu Korhonen. Aspergillus flavus growth inhibition by Lactobacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented Kenyan milk and maize products. Archives of Microbiology. 2016; 199 (3):457-464.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Ahlberg; Vesa Joutsjoki; Sini Laurikkala; Pekka Varmanen; Hannu Korhonen. 2016. "Aspergillus flavus growth inhibition by Lactobacillus strains isolated from traditional fermented Kenyan milk and maize products." Archives of Microbiology 199, no. 3: 457-464.