Multiple mycotoxin co-occurrence in maize grown in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania

- Mycotoxins co-occurrence in three agro ecological zones of Tanzania was investigated.
- An UHPLC/TOFMS method was validated to evaluate multiple mycotoxins co-occurrence.
- Aflatoxins and fumonisins co-occurred in 45% of the samples.
- Contamination pattern differed across three agro-ecological zones in Tanzania.

In this study, the co-occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in maize kernels collected from 300 households' stores in three agro-ecological zones in Tanzania was evaluated by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) with a QuEChERS-based procedure as sample treatment. This method was validated for the analysis of the main eleven mycotoxins of health concern that can occur in maize: aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin and zearalenone (ZEN). From each zone one major maize producing district for home consumption was chosen and 20 villages for each district were randomly selected for sampling. All mycotoxins of health concern, except for T-2 toxin, were detected in the maize samples. Particularly high levels of AFB1 (50%; 3-1,081 μg kg−1), FB1 (73%; 16-18,184 μg kg−1), FB2 (48%; 178-38,217 μg kg−1) and DON (63%; 68-2,196 μg kg−1) were observed. Some samples exceeded the maximum limits set in Tanzania for aflatoxins or in European regulations for other mycotoxins in unprocessed maize. Eighty seven percent of samples were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin, with 45% of samples co-contaminated by carcinogenic mycotoxins, aflatoxins and fumonisins. Significant differences in contamination pattern were observed among the three agro-ecological zones. The high incidence and at high levels (for some) of these mycotoxins in maize may have serious implications on the health of the consumers since maize constitute the staple food of most Tanzanian population. Effective strategies targeting more than one mycotoxin are encouraged to reduce contamination of maize with mycotoxins.