Chapter 8 **Control of Aflatoxicosis in Poultry Using Probiotics and Polymers 149**

Bruno Solis-Cruz, Daniel Hernandez-Patlan, Billy M. Hargis and Guillermo Tellez

Preface

Food and feed contamination by toxigenic fungi accompanied by the production of various mycotoxins is a serious concern worldwide because it seriously compromises health and the economy. This is more devastating in Africa due to climate change dynamics, food habits, poor perception, and the lack of public awareness and educational programs. Mycotoxins are the most important chronic dietary risk factor, ahead of synthetic contaminants, plant toxins, and pesticide residues, with aflatoxin B1 being the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen. As such, their presence in food and feed seriously compromises food and feed

Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed affects a wide variety of industries, including nu‐ trition, agriculture, health, and trade. From a historical viewpoint, one can notice that over the past decades the interest of research, development cooperation agencies, or international health bodies to the problem of aflatoxin has received an unequal attention. Resurfacing in the international news in the 1990s, it faded away to once again reemerge due to increased attention from research funders and development actors to food safety issues and nutrition. In 2019 there is a crucial need for high-level discussion on food safety, including aflatoxin contamination. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), and World Trade Organization (WTO) organized an International Forum on Food Safety and Trade (23–24 April 2019. Geneva). This conference continued the discussions from the Addis Conference (12–13 February 2019. Addis Ababa) to address specifically the

However, collaboration between different actors is still challenging, not least because of the complexity of the contamination sources that occur at pre-harvest and post-harvest levels. Many initiatives and surveys have focused on how bad the situation is in some African coun‐ tries and for some value chains. Less attention has been paid to understanding the reasons why it is so difficult to devise possible solutions that mitigate aflatoxin contamination to scale. This book offers an opportunity for African scientists to present their current research re‐ sults and demonstrates the great diversity of research topics. Section 1 covers the socioeco‐ nomic impact of mycotoxins, Section 2 looks into prevention and control of aflatoxins, and Section 3 discusses aflatoxicosis and control in poultry. The book contributes to the ambi‐ tious objectives of MYTOX-SOUTH, which was launched in 2017. This initiative intends to support the capacity of (mainly) African partners in their research on mycotoxin contamina‐ tion and how it affects not only food safety but also food security. The well-structured mul‐ tidisciplinary partnership of MYTOX-SOUTH deals with all known aspects of mycotoxins and toxigenic mold issues. The final goal is to contribute to formulating adequate strategies and solutions for different stakeholders who are affected by mycotoxin contamination.

safety; thus, there is a need for their regulation and control.

trade-related aspects and challenges of food safety.
