Assessment of levels of temperature conditions on the effectiveness of multiple-layer hermetic bag for bio-rational management of aflatoxin in stored maize

Aflatoxin is a potent mycotoxin that impairs child development, suppress immune system, cause cancer and death in severe cases and rejection of commodities in high-valued domestic and international markets. An evaluation of different levels of temperature on the aflatoxin contents of maize stored in the highly promoted triple-layer hermetic storage bag was studied over three months period. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the accumulation of aflatoxin in maize stored in different storage bags at different levels of temperature. Maize stored in polypropylene bag had aflatoxin level of 38.8 μg kg^-1 closer to the initial aflatoxin concentration of 38.2 μg kg^-1 at 38 °C while hermetically stored maize at room temperature (30 °C) recorded a total aflatoxin of 50.1 μg kg^-1 after three months of storage. The study showed that triple-layer hermetic bag is less effective in reducing further accumulation of aflatoxin at low temperature (16 °C) but, is effective in limiting aflatoxin at room temperature (30 °C) and constant high temperature (38 °C) in previously contaminated maize. Regardless of the storage bag technology, maize stored at safe moisture content (≤ 12%) provided better protection from accumulation of aflatoxin.