AgriAfrica: Toxins threaten food safety

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. 

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