Abstract
Mycotoxins pose a high risk to infant health due to their carcinogenic potency. This research project reports on the occurrence of Aflatoxin B1 in commercial cereal-based weaning baby foods manufactured across industrial hubs in South Asia.
Methodology & Findings
A total of 150 commercial infant food samples were collected and analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection. The study revealed that 18% of raw maize-based infant formula batches contained Aflatoxin B1 levels exceeding the Codex Alimentarius limit of 0.1 µg/kg, with peak concentrations reaching 0.45 µg/kg. Correlation mapping indicates that post-harvest drying delays and poorly ventilated farm warehousing are the primary contributors to fungal growth.
Key Recommendations
- Mandatory rapid ELISA test screening at primary factory receipt docks.
- Implementation of low-cost solar grain dryers in smallholder farming clusters supplying baby food factories.