BREAKING: DO YOU KNOW BRUKINA DRINK IS A CANCER CAUSING SUBSTANCE?

According to research done by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, some samples of brukina, as well as the millet and dairy milk used to make it, contain unsafe amounts of aflatoxins that, when consumed repeatedly, can lead to cancer. 

 The Ghana Medical Journal published the study. The millet-based fermented milk product known as brukina is produced and consumed exclusively in Ghana. It is a type of smoothie. However, it is susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, a significant health risk for low- and middle-income countries in subtropical areas.

 Over a period of seven months, monthly samples of "brukina" were bought from producers for the study. Nima and Ashaiman in Accra were the locations where the 21 samples were taken for testing. After testing, the researchers discovered that 2 samples from Nima and 1 from Ashaiman both contained high amounts of aflatoxin (AFB1) that were beyond the permitted threshold. AFM1 levels were over the permissible limit in 12 dairy milk samples from Ashaiman and 10 from Nima. Aflatoxin contamination was found in some of the "brukina" samples tested, and all levels of aflatoxins increase the risk of cancer. AFB1 was also discovered in 2 millet samples from Ashaiman and 6 samples from Nima.

 Toxicologist and principal investigator Prof. Regina Appiah-Opong of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research stated, "Also, farmers and producers of "brukina" must be educated on good storage techniques and supervised by the regulatory authorities to protect the public from aflatoxin exposure and toxicity."