Cary, NC USA). The data was subjected to simple descriptive statistics, which looked at the range, the mean and the variance. Results A total of 36 weanimix samples were collected from 3 different communities in the Ejura-Sekyedumase district (12 samples from each community) and analyzed for total aflatoxins and fumonisins. Of those samples all (100%) were positive for aflatoxin with 83.34% of the samples exceeding a concentration of 20 ppb; the action limit set forth

by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). Fumonisin was also present in all weanimix samples collected with 58.3% over the U.S. FDA limit of 4 ppm. The range of aflatoxin concentrations from the three communities was 7.9–500 ppb with 9 samples over 200 ppb (Figure 1a) and fumonisins ranged from 0.75–11.0 ppm (Figure 1b). Figure 1 Range see more and Concentration of Aflatoxin and Fumonisin in Weanimix. (A) Aflatoxin (AFB1) concentration. (B) Fumonisin (FB1) concentrations.

Aflatoxin concentrations in weanimix varied from community to community with Ejura town having the highest with mean value of 209.4 ppb and a range of 23–470 ppb, Hiawoawu had a range of 7.9–380 ppb with a mean concentration of 115.2 ppb and Dromankuma had a range of 14–500ppb with a mean concentration of 111.1 ppb (Figure 2a). The mean aflatoxin level in the homemade food for children at Dromankuma (111.1ppb) was significantly (p< Panobinostat ic50 0.05) lower when compared with the level (209.4ppb) obtained at Ejura town. The data on fumonisin showed no significant (p> 0.05) difference in the fumonisin concentrations between the three communities (Figure 2b). The fumonisin values ranged from 0.74–11.0 ppm with a mean of 5.4 ppm in Ejura town, 1.9–6.8 ppm with a mean of 4.2 ppm in Hiawoawu and Dromankuma had a range of 1.5–11.0 ppm with a mean of 4.3 ppm. Figure 2 Mean of aflatoxin concentrations in Weanimix. found (A) Aflatoxin (AFB1) concentration. (B) Fumonisin (FB1) concentrations. Discussion Weaning is a transition period of a child from breast milk to other sources of food which often results in a marked decrease in nutrient intake in developing countries.16 One

possible variable contributing to poor child health is the increase in exposure to mycotoxin contaminated foods following weaning. The present studies have shown that, homemade weanimix meant to improve child nutrition is significantly contaminated with the mycotoxins, aflatoxin and fumonisin. Aflatoxin exposure early in life has been associated with impaired growth, particularly stunting.17 This early exposure is a potential risk for synergistic interactions with other toxins as subjects grow in later years.18,9 Other studies elsewhere in Africa have shown high levels of aflatoxin contamination in staple foods. In a study 55% of maize products in Kenya had aflatoxin levels greater than the action limit of 20ppb, 35% of the products have levels exceeding 100µg/kg and 7% above 1000µg/kg as reported.