Baby Safety / Compounds / Aflatoxin B2

Is Aflatoxin B2 safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

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(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Aflatoxin B2, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is aflatoxin b2?

Also known as: AFLATOXIN G2, 2MS0D8WA29, (3S,7R)-11-methoxy-6,8,16,20-tetraoxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.03,7.013,18]icosa-1,9,11,13(18)-tetraene-17,19-dione, (7AR,cis)3,4,7a,9,10,10a-hexahydro-5-methoxy-1H,12H-furo(3',2':4,5)furo(2,3-h)pyrano(3,4-c)chromene-1,12-dione.

CAS number
7220-81-7
Molecular formula
C17H14O6
Molecular weight
314.29 g/mol
SMILES
COC1=C2C3=C(C(=O)CC3)C(=O)OC2=C4[C@@H]5CCO[C@@H]5OC4=C1
PubChem CID
2724360

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Aflatoxin B2, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Aflatoxin B2, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Aflatoxin B2.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2012Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)Aflatoxins are carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1), IARC Monographs Vol 100F (2012). Aflatoxin B2 has limited individual evidence in experimental animals, but is a naturally-occurring aflatoxin congener covered by the Group-1 'Aflatoxins' class evaluation. Filled 2026-07-02 (D-300, Batch C).

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter aflatoxin b2

  • Food Chaincontaminated grain

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Aflatoxin B2:

  • Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
    Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain aflatoxin b2?

Aflatoxin B2 appears in: contaminated grain (Food chain).

See Aflatoxin B2 in the baby app

Look up products containing aflatoxin b2, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (2)

  1. PubChem — Aflatoxin B2 (CID 2724360) (2026) — database
  2. IARC Monographs Volume 100F (2012) — Aflatoxins (Group 1) (2012) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for medical, pediatric, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →