Aflatoxin in fresh produce supply chains in Pakistan: review and way forward
Prevalence of aflatoxins in fresh produce commodities at the time of consumption is one of the growing food safety concerns
Abstract
Pakistan is an agriculture based economy and horticulture is an important industry of this sector. Fresh produce export contributes significant amount of resources to National Gross Domestic Product. However, with increasing food quality and safety awareness amongst the consumers in high end international and domestic markets, and the lack of capacity on behalf of growers and traders to cater the needs of the well-deserved fresh produce consumers is resulting in loss of export markets for the fresh produce industry of Pakistan. Prevalence of aflatoxins in fresh produce commodities at the time of consumption is one of the growing food safety concerns. While some of the published research has established that aflatoxins are found in fresh produce commodities grown in Pakistan and marketed in Arab countries, Europe, and in domestic markets, only limited and random scientific research supports the evidence of presence of the specific quantities and types of aflatoxins in specific fresh produce commodities. There remains a need to conduct a supply chain focused comprehensive research study on assessment of aflatoxins in the major fresh produce commodities of Pakistan.
Citation
Mazhar, M.S., Bajwa, B.E. and Ahmad, T. (2017) Aflatoxin in fresh produce supply chains in Pakistan: review and way forward. Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan 39(5), 879–883.
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Aflatoxin in fresh produce supply chains in Pakistan: review and way forward