Mycotoxins are a group of natural poisons produced by certain strains of fungal species when they grow under favourable conditions on a wide variety of different substrates. These toxins have been implicated in a wide range of acute diseases in man and animals. Their toxic effects include oesophageal cancer and liver diseases in humans, and carcinogenic effects in experimental rats and poultry. Hence, there is a need to monitor toxin levels in food commodities.
