Farmers are least aware of aflatoxin in corn

Aflatoxin in corn—which when ingested by animals or men could result in biological disorders and even death—is least understood by farmers and traders. Only the feedmillers are strict about complying with regulations on aflatoxin levels. Also, the government agencies tasked with regulating aflatoxin levels in food and feeds hardly, if at all, perform such duties.

"Only few of the farmers and traders are aware of the aflatoxin contamination in corn, hence majority of them do not observe proper postharvest practices to avoid molds that lead to aflatoxin build-up in corn," according to an in-house study of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension.

The BPRE study made use of interviews of various stakeholders in the corn industry as well as actual tests on samples in farms and trading houses in Isabela, South Cotabato and Manila, recently. It also analyzed the roles of four government regulatory agencies based on existing regulations and how effectively they have been regulating aflatoxin levels in corn.

Corn farmers in South Cotabato were more aware and knowledgeable of aflatoxin in corn—than their counterparts in Isabela-hence they practice drying to improve the quality of corn. But the drying done is the traditional sun-drying.

Traders in Isabela base their knowledge on aflatoxin in corn from tradition and make this as their criteria for buying and selling. But in South Cotabato, traders take an extra effort in drying the corn for better quality and longer storage.

The study was meant to assess the existing policies enforcing regulations on aflatoxin contaminated corn-based food and feed products. The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) is in charge with corn based foods while the Bureau of Animal Industry is for animal feeds. The study, however, observed that there are existing policies on the matter but that implementation remains to be wanting.

Quality standards imposed on feedmillers and food processors are based on physical analysis like: moisture content (ranging from 12-16 percent for feedmillers and 12-15 percent for food processors); broken grains (1-5 percent or with size sieve mesh number 4); impurities (2-5 percent); damaged grains (1-10 percent); discolored grains (8 percent); immature grains (10 percent) and molds (2-5 percent).

The standards based on chemical analysis are: aflatoxin content (5-20 ppb for breeders and poultry and 50-60 ppb for other livestock such as hogs). But food processors require aflatoxin content of less than 20 ppb. Corn products not conforming to this standard is considered low grade or rejects by feedmillers and food processors.

Of the feedmillers surveyed, 44 percent did not consider aflatoxin contamination a problem but 67 percent of food processors did. This indicates that food processors had stricter standards compared with feedmillers. Bigtime feedmillers and food processors also had their own aflatoxin testing kits and quality control officers to ensure that the corn they buy is within the tolerable limit of aflatoxin contamination.

The study showed that the potential income of Isabela farmers that practiced good postharvest is P7,173 per hectare for dry season and P2,834 per hectare during wet season. Those with unfavorable postharvest practices lost P2,480 per hectare during dry season and P1,258 per hectare during wet season.

In South Cotabato, the potential income following good postharvest practices is P6,180 per hectare during dry season and P7,141 per hectare during wet season. Those who did not follow good postharvest practices lost P4,061 per hectare and P2,043 per hectare during dry and wet season, respectively.

On the government regulatory agencies, the study said:

• The Bureau of Food and Drugs can not fully assure consumers that the products being manufactured by food companies are really safe and it lacked laboratories to undertake aflatoxin analysis with of 12 recognized laboratories having the complete capability to conduct aflatoxin testing and these are located in NCR and Region 4.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has established laboratories in each region but only four regional laboratories are capable of doing aflatoxin testing namely Regions 4, 6, 7 and 10. As of 2003, BAI has accredited 62 active laboratories throughout the country.

The National Food Authority as the marketing arm of government, feedmillers and food processors should follow strictly the rules and regulations in procuring corn by adopting the standards for corn grains set by the Bureau of Food and Product Standards (BAFPS).

BFAD and BAI should improve data base management on aflatoxin contamination profile in corn and make these resources available to research institutions.