Lebanon- Central Poultry Committee Warns of Feed Contaminated with Mycotoxins

The Central Poultry Committee, during the National Meeting of Agricultural Bodies in Lebanon, warned of “serious risks threatening the poultry sector, following the detection of corn feed entering Lebanon that contains high and multiple levels of mycotoxins, causing widespread damage to farms across various regions.”

The committee recorded “alarming regulatory gaps,” noting that “official tests are often limited to aflatoxin analysis only, while other dangerous mycotoxins are neglected, despite their globally documented effects on health and production.”

Regarding damages, the committee reported “widespread cases of diarrhea, dehydration, and bird mortality, severe immune suppression, and increased incidence of viral and bacterial diseases, in addition to reduced growth and weight in broiler chickens, lower egg production and hatchability rates in laying hens, as well as direct effects on the ovaries, digestive system, and liver—resulting in economic losses extending throughout the entire production cycle.”

It called for “expanding laboratory testing to include all types of mycotoxins without exception, tightening oversight on corn vessels and imported feed, and preventing the entry of any shipment not accompanied by comprehensive and certified analysis results.”