ABSTRACT

Food stuffs can be contaminated with fungi in the field, during drying, processing, transportation and subsequent storage, which may lead to secretion of mycotoxins under favorable condition. The aim of this study was the isolation and identification of mycotoxins associated with food items commonly for weaning in Nigeria. Five (5) samples of Millet, Guinea corn, wheat, Soybean and Maize regularly used for weaning by Nigerian families were collected from local markets of Sabo and Kawo central market in Kaduna State. The samples were screened for fungi and their metabolites using spread plate method and ELISA techniques. The results yielded 5 isolates which belongs to the three genera (Fusariuni, Penicillium and Aspergillus). Aspergillus isolates which are good producers of mycotoxins (aflatoxin) and had the highest frequency of occurrence (100%) in the food samples while Penicilliurn had minimal occurrence frequency found in the five samples. The highest level of aflatoxin was obtained in millet (4.38µglkg) and least in soybean and guinea corn (0.00ig/kg). Certainly, the occurrence of such types of mycotoxins can pose a healthy threatening risk for the consumer more so infants. Presence of these fungi in food products could be due to lack of good agriculture and food manufacturing practices throughout the food production chain.