Post-harvest interventions decrease aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in maize and subsequent dietary exposure in Tanzanian infants : a cluster randomised-controlled trial

A cluster randomised controlled trial was performed in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania to evaluate the effectiveness of locally available post-harvest mitigation strategies in preventing and reducing aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination in maize. A total of 300 children, each from one household, were randomly selected from 30 villages (intervention: n=15). The mitigation strategies focused on hand sorting (prior to storage and use), drying maize on mat/raised platforms, proper sun drying, application of storage insecticides and de-hulling before milling. Maize sample was collected from each household at harvest (baseline) and six months after harvest. Maize intake by each child, estimated using the 24 h dietary recall technique and its body weight measured using standard procedures were taken at six months after harvest. Aflatoxins and fumonisins in the maize samples were determined using HPLC. Follow-up (six month after harvest) data were available for 261 of the 300 households (intervention: n=136). Mean concentration of aflatoxins, or fumonisins was significantly (P