The most serious aflatoxin in corn in the Midwest of the United States since 1988

Introduction: according to us crop experts on Monday, this year's aflatoxin in corn crops in the Midwest of the US is the most serious outbreak since 1998, because this summer's dry weather caused the carcinogenic toxin in corn Aflatoxin is found in moldy corn If it is high enough, it will cause cancer to human body and death of young animals Aflatoxins are usually found in parts of the southern corn belt, especially in Texas, where corn is often exposed to high temperatures But this year's heat wave swept the corn belt in July and August, making the central and western regions face a high risk of producing Aspergillus flavus The most severe areas of aflatoxin are probably Illinois and Nebraska, the second and third largest corn producing regions in the United States, respectively The U.S Food and drug administration requires that the content of Aspergillus flavus in consumer food should not exceed 20 ppm, and that in livestock feed should not exceed 300 ppm According to Ken Jackson, program manager of the Department of agriculture of Nebraska, 60 corn samples have been tested in the state this year, of which 42% or 26 samples contain more than 20 ppm of aflatoxin, and the highest concentration of aflatoxin is 243ppm In addition to aflatoxin, fumonisin was also found in Nebraska, mainly in the dry land corn growing area in the southeast of Nebraska There is a large-scale outbreak of aflatoxin in Brescia, the No.1 corn producing area in the United States, but few aflatoxins are found in the southwest states of the United States The level of aflatoxin in Illinois is at its highest level in 12 years The Illinois Department of agriculture conducted 148 corn samples on Monday, 20 of which contained more than 20 ppm of Aspergillus flavus, but no more than 300 ppm was found Depending on the level of aflatoxin, corn with aflatoxin will be priced at a discount of 8 to 25 cents per bushel this year, according to Midwest food traders.