Mycotoxins found in Kenyan milled rice samples
What it found
In 200 milled rice samples from Kenya, many mycotoxins were found, but most were at low levels.
Aflatoxin was above the Kenyan limit in 13.5% of samples.
What they found
Sterigmatocystin most common
Sterigmatocystin was found in 74.5% of samples, at levels from 0.03 to 7 ppb. There is no set regulatory limit for this toxin.
Aflatoxin levels and limits
Aflatoxin was found in 55.5% of samples, with levels from 0.26 to 993 ppb. 13.5% of samples were above the Kenyan limit of 10 ppb.
Other mycotoxins detected
Citrinin was in 55.5% of samples, ochratoxin A in 30%, fumonisin in 26%, diacetoxyscirpenol in 20.5%, and HT2+T2 in 14.5%. Deoxynivalenol was found in only one sample at 510 ppb.
Multiple toxins together
Many samples had more than one toxin. 3.5% of samples had six different toxins at once.
Cultivar differences
The NIBAM 11 cultivar had more aflatoxin, fumonisin, and HT2+T2 than NIBAM 109. For example, aflatoxin was eight times more frequent in NIBAM 11.
Harvest time and handling
Harvest month, paddy environment, and miller affected which toxins were found. For example, fumonisin and sterigmatocystin varied with harvest date, and aflatoxin varied among millers.
What the authors conclude
“These findings are indications of chronic consumer exposure to low levels of different mycotoxins in rice.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the findings indicate chronic consumer exposure to low levels of different mycotoxins in rice.
- They call for an urgent establishment of a policy on safe rice production through better practices along the value chain.
- They propose integrated strategies across different points of the value chain to avoid human exposure to mycotoxins in consumed rice.
How it was done
Rice is an important food in Kenya, but little was known about mycotoxin contamination in Kenyan rice. The authors wanted to assess the extent of contamination and identify factors linked to it.
They collected 200 milled rice samples from traders in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya, between February and May 2019. They tested for nine mycotoxins using lab methods and recorded information on cultivar, harvest month, and miller.
What it can’t tell you
- This study tested rice samples at one point in time. It cannot show whether eating this rice over many years causes health problems.
- The study did not follow people or measure health outcomes, so it cannot prove that these mycotoxin levels cause any specific illness.
- The authors did not collect data on farming and storage practices, so they cannot say exactly which practices led to the contamination.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, Kenya; University of Arkansas, USA; National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Kenya
The paper
- Title
- Multiple Mycotoxins in Kenyan Rice
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Mutiga SK, Mutuku JM, Koskei V, et al (2021). Multiple Mycotoxins in Kenyan Rice. Toxins. doi:10.3390/toxins13030203Free full textPubMed 33799626DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error