14/07/21

AgriAfrica: Toxins threaten food safety

Harvesting season in Nyando, Kenya. Copyright: S.Kilungu (CCAFS), CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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<h1>AgriAfrica: Toxins threaten food safety</h1>
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<p>In Africa, unsafe food causes illness, puts pressure on public health systems and hinders progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and hunger by 2030. According to the World Health Organization, each year about 600 million people around the world become ill after eating contaminated food.</p>
<p>This is the second episode of our new mini-series, AgriAfrica, where we’re digging into the continent’s agricultural infrastructure. This week, our reporter Charles Pensulo investigates food safety and finds out why aflatoxins — which can grow in soil, grasses and grains — are a major contributor to foodborne illness in Africa.</p>
<p>Be sure to join us next week for the third and final episode of the AgriAfrica series, as we look at how blockchain is being used in agriculture in Africa.</p>
<p>Send us your questions from anywhere in the world — text or voice message via WhatsApp to +254799042513.</p>
<p><strong><em>Africa Science Focus, with Michael Kaloki. </em></strong></p>
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<p><em style="font-family: CaeciliaCom-55Roman, TimesNewRoman, serif; font-size: 18px;">This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.</em></p>
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In Africa, unsafe food causes illness, puts pressure on public health systems and hinders progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and hunger by 2030. According to the World Health Organization, each year about 600 million people around the world become ill after eating contaminated food.

This is the second episode of our new mini-series, AgriAfrica, where we’re digging into the continent’s agricultural infrastructure. This week, our reporter Charles Pensulo investigates food safety and finds out why aflatoxins — which can grow in soil, grasses and grains — are a major contributor to foodborne illness in Africa.

Be sure to join us next week for the third and final episode of the AgriAfrica series, as we look at how blockchain is being used in agriculture in Africa.

Send us your questions from anywhere in the world — text or voice message via WhatsApp to +254799042513.

Africa Science Focus, with Michael Kaloki.

This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.