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  Even though peanuts are tested before they leave their country of origin, tonnes of imported peanuts have apparently been found to be contaminated with aflatoxin.

With peanuts it is believed that the aflatoxin forms on the peanuts during transportation, particularly if they are stored under warm, humid conditions.

Members of the public have been advised not to feed peanuts to birds unless they meet UK bird food standards and have been properly tested to ensure that they are not contaminated.

This includes wild birds (they are just as susceptible).

Aflatoxin can cause liver cancer, depress the immune system, and can cause defects in unborn animals. In some species it can cause death. Puppies are particularly susceptible and some poultry such as turkey and geese are also susceptible. 

There is not much information about aflatoxin poisoning in other birds such as budgerigars, parrots, finches and canaries, but it should be assumed that they are likely to be susceptible if they are fed high doses of the toxin.

The same warning applies to hamsters and other small mammals which might be given peanuts.

As a rule, aflatoxin is only found in individual nuts, unfortunately if batches intended for human consumption are affected by this toxin, the product can no longer be approved. 

Nuts affected by aflatoxin cannot be distinguished from the other nuts by the human eye.

Although the toxin may be detected using UV light.

If you have bought sweet corn from a supplier anywhere in the UK recently, and it looks like the above - ask them some serious questions as to its origins.

For further info:

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Honolulu Zoo,Junglephotos.com,Provet.co.uk