Mycotoxins occurrence in selected staple food in main markets from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Lubumbashi is the second biggest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and contains more than five million people who mostly rely on maize, peanut, cassava and beans as daily staple food. This study on mycotoxins in selected staple food contamination is a preliminary and a first in DRC. Results obtained showed mycotoxins contamination in all samples obtained from Lunsonga and Kenya market with fumonisins (FBs) in 100% of maize samples, 83.3% of beans while no FBs were detected in peanuts samples analysed. Aflatoxins were found to be present in 100% peanuts, 95% maize and 80% of beans samples. The incidence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in maize, peanut and in bean was 18, 29 and 24%, respectively, while that of zearalenone (ZEA) in maize and bean samples was 92.5 and 90% in that order. However, no ZEA was detected in the analysed peanut samples. The FB recoveries were up to 603 times the acceptable limit of mycotoxins of staple food consumed in Lubumbashi and surrounding areas. Current results revealed the high risks that urban populations are exposed as regard to mycotoxins.