Queenta N. Nji ^1* Mulunda Mwanza ²

• ¹ Food Safety and Security Niche, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North West University, Mafikeng, South Africa
• ² North-West University, Mmambatho, South Africa

Food and agricultural organisation (FAO) reported that numerous diseases can be traced back to the consumption of unsafe food contaminated with mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by toxigenic filamentous fungi. Mycotoxins reported to be of socioeconomic concerns include aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and deoxynivalenol. These mycotoxins are frequent contaminants of maize especially in the face of climate change and global food insecurity. South Africa is a leading exporter of maize in Africa, hence, consumers' safety with respect to mycotoxin contamination of maize is crucial to evaluate exposure risks. Seven hundred and fifty-two (752) post-harvest maize samples collected from silos over a 3-year period were analysed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique for the occurrence of mycotoxins. The overall mean values for all the quantified mycotoxins were within the South Africa regulatory limit as well as the individual samples, apart from DON and FBs mycotoxins with 5% and 1% samples respectively above the South African regulatory limit. Citrinin was quantified in South African commercial maize for the first time. The present of major mycotoxins in South African commercial maize even though within safety limit is of public health concern, hence, continuous monitoring and evaluation is recommended.