CHICAGO, Illinois – Aflatoxin, a cancer-causing toxin, has turned up in
the U.S. Midwest corn crop in the worst outbreak since the drought of
1988, crop specialists say.
The toxin, found in mouldy corn, can cause cancer in humans if consumed
at high enough levels and can be deadly to young animals if they eat
large amounts.
It is usually found in hot southern areas. But this year’s heat wave
plagued the heart of the corn belt in July and August. The hardest hit
states are Illinois and Nebraska.
Of 148 corn samples taken by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as
of Nov. 4, 20 had tested above the maximum human tolerance level of 20
parts per billion but none were over the maximum tolerance for
livestock feed of 300 parts per billion.
“The aflatoxin presents a marketing problem at this point … trying to
make sure that the grain is used for suitable purposes,” said Jeff
Squibb, of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
