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What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: Micronutrient Content and Fungal Contamination of Foods in Developing Countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Vivian Hoffmann
Vivian Hoffmann*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland
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Abstract

The negative effects of micronutrient deficiencies on human capital acquisition and economic productivity are well documented. A less well understood but potentially serious threat to human health in developing countries is the contamination of food crops by fungal toxins. This paper surveys what is known about the health and economic burdens attributable to insufficient micronutrients and toxic contamination of food in developing countries, discusses consumer demand for micronutrients and food safety, and describes some of the challenges to improving population nutrition, particularly in rural areas.

Keywords

food safetymicronutrientsaflatoxindeveloping countries
Type
Invited Papers
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , October 2009 , pp. 100 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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