Co-Occurrence of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A in Lebanese Stored Wheat.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to determine the levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in durum wheat samples collected over six periods of time from two official warehouses (A and B) in Lebanon. The concentrations of AFB1 in wheat samples taken from both warehouses ranged from 1.05 to 7.36 µg/kg. Results showed that 23.3 and 25.3% of samples taken from warehouse A and warehouse B, respectively, had AFB1 levels >2 µg/kg. For OTA, the contamination level of wheat samples taken from warehouse A and warehouse B was 52.0 and 44.6%, respectively, with concentrations ranging from 0.51 to 9.71 µg/kg. The percentage of samples with high detectable OTA levels (>3 µg/kg) was 28.6 and 25.3% for wheat samples taken from warehouse A and warehouse B, respectively. Thus, the consumption of wheat and derived products in Lebanon can be considered hazardous and may present a significant risk to the health of the Lebanese population regarding the overall daily exposure to these mycotoxins.

Sodium intake reduction efforts in Lebanon.

Sodium intake reduction efforts in Lebanon are quite recent and have just started to take effect on the national level. Starting out from an academic institution, the Lebanese Action on Sodium and Health (LASH) campaign was established to counter the increasing prevalence of hypertension and associated adverse health effects. The campaign's strategy was based on four pillars: research, health communication, advocacy, and monitoring. The LASH group set out with determining: baseline sodium intake of the population, main sources of sodium intake, and the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) of the population as a situation analysis that prompts for action. This gave LASH tangible evidence of the magnitude of the problem and the need for the government, the food industry, and the consumers, to be mobilized to take part in devising a solution. Currently, Lebanon is at a stage of technically working to reduce the sodium content in the major sources of sodium, namely local bread and bread-like products. The next steps will include implementation of a plan for monitoring industry compliance, while studying other food targets, including dairy products and processed meat. Meanwhile, the health communication plan is ongoing and the Salt Awareness Week is celebrated every year with media appearances of LASH researchers to raise the issue to the public eye.