Mycotoxin management in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comprehensive systematic review of policies and strategies in Malawi.

Abstract

Food safety challenges, such as mycotoxin contamination, pose severe threats to public health, agricultural productivity, and economic development across Sub-Saharan African countries and beyond. This study investigated whether government policies related to food safety adequately address these concerns, using Malawi as a case study. We systematically reviewed 29 government-authored policy documents related to food safety. These documents were categorized into six sectors: Agriculture, Environment, Nutrition, Health, Trade and Industry, and Education. Our analysis revealed critical gaps in addressing mycotoxin concerns in these policies, with only 4 of the 29 policy documents (14 %) addressing food safety and mycotoxin management. In contrast, 13 policy documents (45 %) did not address these issues at all, while 12 policy documents (41 %) focused solely on food safety management without addressing mycotoxin contamination. Notably, Malawi's long-term development blueprint, Malawi 2063 , does not include mycotoxin management, underscoring a critical policy gap and broader systemic challenges in integrating food safety and mycotoxin control into national frameworks. Furthermore, Malawi lacks a dedicated sector responsible for food safety and a comprehensive national food safety policy to coordinate efforts in mycotoxin control. While this study centers on Malawi, the findings resonate globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and other countries with similar agricultural and economic contexts. Addressing these systemic policy gaps is vital for developing integrated food safety frameworks that combat mycotoxin contamination, strengthen sustainable food systems, enhance public health, and foster economic resilience. These findings also provide a replicable model for policy analysis, contributing to international discourse by emphasizing the importance of aligning food safety governance with global development priorities, such as the Sustainable Development Goals.