The State.com: Fungus taints corn sent to Japan
Japan has tightened inspections on corn from the United States after finding a poisonous fungus in a shipment that arrived in the country, a government official said... Aflatoxin, a fungus found on corn and other grains, can cause illness in animals and is associated with liver cancer in humans. Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include lethargy, loss of appetite, yellowish eyes and gums, and severe or bloody diarrhea...Japan has imported 3.76 million tons of corn from the United States this year. That includes 21 tons of sweet corn and 7,613 tons of popcorn.
