Food Availability

Aflatoxin, a toxin produced by the Aspergillus fungus, poses a serious health threat in developing countries. The toxin grows in a number of staple crops worldwide, such as maize, and chronic exposure can lead to liver disease, cancer, and even death. While proper testing and processing of crops can reduce aflatoxin levels in finished food products like maize flour, many developing countries lack the regulatory environment needed to enforce such testing and handling requirements.