Assessment of dietary exposure to the natural toxin hypoglycin in ackee ( Blighia sapida) by Jamaican consumers

Dietary exposure to hypoglycin (HG), the natural toxin found in the ackee fruit of Jamaica, was determined for children and adults using ackee consumption data and quantifying HG levels in typical ackee diets. Ackee consumption was highest in the lower socio-economic group, particularly in children. HG occurrence levels in typical ackee diets ranged from 1.21 to 89.28 μg HG/g ackee. Dietary exposure to HG was highest in young children, who lived in lower socio-economic rural areas of Jamaica. This study is the first to quantify dietary exposure to HG by Jamaican consumers, providing some basis to guide risk assessment. The findings also concur with observations that young children in lower socio-economic groups are the most vulnerable to HG toxicity, when it occurs.