scholarly journals Sampling Hazelnuts for Aflatoxin: Effect of Sample Size and Accept/Reject Limit on Reducing the Risk of Misclassifying Lots

2007 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1028-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guner Ozay ◽  
Ferda Seyhan ◽  
Aysun Yilmaz ◽  
Thomas B Whitaker ◽  
Andrew B Slate ◽  
...  

Abstract About 100 countries have established regulatory limits for aflatoxin in food and feeds. Because these limits vary widely among regulating countries, the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants began work in 2004 to harmonize aflatoxin limits and sampling plans for aflatoxin in almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts. Studies were developed to measure the uncertainty and distribution among replicated sample aflatoxin test results taken from aflatoxin-contaminated treenut lots. The uncertainty and distribution information is used to develop a model that can evaluate the performance (risk of misclassifying lots) of aflatoxin sampling plan designs for treenuts. Once the performance of aflatoxin sampling plans can be predicted, they can be designed to reduce the risks of misclassifying lots traded in either the domestic or export markets. A method was developed to evaluate the performance of sampling plans designed to detect aflatoxin in hazelnuts lots. Twenty hazelnut lots with varying levels of contamination were sampled according to an experimental protocol where 16 test samples were taken from each lot. The observed aflatoxin distribution among the 16 aflatoxin sample test results was compared to lognormal, compound gamma, and negative binomial distributions. The negative binomial distribution was selected to model aflatoxin distribution among sample test results because it gave acceptable fits to observed distributions among sample test results taken from a wide range of lot concentrations. Using the negative binomial distribution, computer models were developed to calculate operating characteristic curves for specific aflatoxin sampling plan designs. The effect of sample size and accept/reject limits on the chances of rejecting good lots (sellers' risk) and accepting bad lots (buyers' risk) was demonstrated for various sampling plan designs.

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Ozer ◽  
H.I. Oktay Basegmez ◽  
T.B. Whitaker ◽  
A.B. Slate ◽  
F.G. Giesbrecht

Because aflatoxin limits vary widely among regulating countries, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) began work in 2006 to harmonise maximum levels (MLs) and sampling plans for aflatoxin in dried figs. Studies were developed to measure the variability and distribution among replicated sample aflatoxin test results taken from the same aflatoxin contaminated lot of dried figs so that a model could be developed to evaluate the risk of misclassifying lots of dried figs by aflatoxin sampling plan designs. The model was then be used by the CCCF electronic working group (eWG) to recommend MLs and aflatoxin sampling plan designs to the full CCCF membership for lots traded in the export market. Sixteen 10 kg samples were taken from each of 20 dried fig lots with varying levels of contamination. The observed aflatoxin distribution among the 16-aflatoxin sample test results was compared to the normal, lognormal, compound gamma, and negative binomial distributions. The negative binomial distribution was selected to model aflatoxin distribution among sample test results because it gave acceptable fits to observed aflatoxin distributions among sample test results taken from the same contaminated lot. Using the negative binomial distribution, a computer model was developed to show the effect of the number and size of samples and the accept/reject limits on the chances of rejecting good lots (seller's risk) and accepting bad lots (buyer's risk). The information was shared with the CCCF eWG and in March 2012, the 6th session of CCCF adopted at step 5/8 an aflatoxin sampling plan where three 10 kg samples must all test less than an ML of 10 µg/kg total aflatoxins to accept a dried fig lot. The 35th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission met in July 2012 and adopted the CCCF recommendations for the ML and the sampling plan as an official Codex standard.


2007 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1050-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas B Whitaker ◽  
M Bruno Doko ◽  
Britt M Maestroni ◽  
Andrew B Slate ◽  
Bosede F Ogunbanwo

Abstract Fumonisins are toxic and carcinogenic compounds produced by fungi that can be readily found in maize. The establishment of maximum limits for fumonisins requires the development of scientifically based sampling plans to detect fumonisin in maize. As part of an International Atomic Energy Agency effort to assist developing countries to control mycotoxin contamination, a study was conducted to design sampling plans to detect fumonisin in maize produced and marketed in Nigeria. Eighty-six maize lots were sampled according to an experimental protocol in which an average of 17 test samples, 100 g each, were taken from each lot and analyzed for fumonisin B1 by using liquid chromatography. The total variability associated with the fumonisin test procedure was measured for each lot. Regression equations were developed to predict the total variance as a function of fumonisin concentration. The observed fumonisin distribution among the replicated-sample test results was compared with several theoretical distributions, and the negative binomial distribution was selected to model the fumonisin distribution among test results. A computer model was developed by using the variance and distribution information to predict the performance of sampling plan designs to detect fumonisin in maize shipments. The performance of several sampling plan designs was evaluated to demonstrate how to manipulate sample size and accept/reject limits to reduce misclassification of maize lots.


2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. Whitaker ◽  
A. B. Slate ◽  
F. G. Giesbrecht

Abstract When food manufacturers specify a maximum limit for the amount of foreign material (FM) in the lot, handlers estimate the true percent FM in a commercial lot by measuring FM in a small sample taken from the lot before shipment to a food manufacturer. Because of the uncertainty (variability) in FM among samples taken from the same lot, it is difficult to obtain a precise estimate of the true FM in the lot. The objectives of this study were to (1) measure the variability and FM distribution among sample test results when estimating the true lot proportion of FM in a lot of shelled peanuts, (2) compare the measured variability and FM distribution among sample test results to that predicted by the binomial distribution, (3) develop a computer model, based upon the binomial distribution, to evaluate the performance (buyer's risk and seller's risk) of sampling plan designs used to estimate FM in a bulk lot of shelled peanuts, and (4) demonstrate with the model the effect of increasing sample size to reduce misclassification of lots. Eighty-eight samples, 9 kg (20 lb) each, were selected at random from each of six commercial lots of shelled medium runner peanuts. The percent FM (PFM), based upon number of kernels was determined for each sample. The mean, variance, and distribution among the 88 sample test results were calculated for each of the six lots. Results indicated that the variance and distribution among the 88 sample test results are very similar to that predicted by the binomial distribution. The performance of various sampling plan designs was demonstrated using the binomial distribution.


Parasitology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. GABA ◽  
V. GINOT ◽  
J. CABARET

Macroparasites are almost always aggregated across their host populations, hence the Negative Binomial Distribution (NBD) with its exponent parameter k is widely used for modelling, quantifying or analysing parasite distributions. However, many studies have pointed out some drawbacks in the use of the NBD, with respect to the sensitivity of k to the mean number of parasites per host or the under-representation of the heavily infected hosts in the estimate of k. In this study, we compare the fit of the NBD with 4 other widely used distributions on observed parasitic gastrointestinal nematode distributions in their sheep host populations (11 datasets). Distributions were fitted to observed data using maximum likelihood estimator and the best fits were selected using the Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). A simulation study was also conducted in order to assess the possible bias in parameter estimations especially in the case of small sample sizes. We found that the NBD is seldom the best fit for gastrointestinal nematode distributions. The Weibull distribution was clearly more appropriate over a very wide range of degrees of aggregation, mainly because it was more flexible in fitting the heavily infected hosts. Moreover, the Weibull distribution estimates are less sensitive to sample size. Thus, when possible, we suggest to carefully check on observed data if the NBD is appropriate before conducting any further analysis on parasite distributions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
WALTER MALDONADO JR ◽  
JOSÉ CARLOS BARBOSA ◽  
MARÍLIA GREGOLIN COSTA ◽  
PAULO CÉSAR TIBURCIO GONÇALVES ◽  
TIAGO ROBERTO DOS SANTOS

ABSTRACT Among the pests of citrus, one of the most important is the red and black flat mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), which transmits the Citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C).When a rational pest control plan is adopted, it is important to determine the correct timing for carrying out the control plan. Making this decision demands constant follow-up of the culture through periodic sampling where knowledge about the spatial distribution of the pest is a fundamental part to improve sampling and control decisions. The objective of this work was to study the spatial distribution pattern and build a sequential sampling plan for the pest. The data used were gathered from two blocks of Valencia sweet orange on a farm in São Paulo State, Brazil, by 40 inspectors trained for the data collection. The following aggregation indices were calculated: variance/ mean ratio, Morisita index, Green’s coefficient, and k parameter of the negative binomial distribution. The data were tested for fit with Poisson and negative binomial distributions using the chi-square goodness of fit test. The sequential sampling was developed using Wald’s Sequential Probability Ratio Test and validated through simulations. We concluded that the spatial distribution of B. phoenicis is aggregated, its behavior best fitted to the negative binomial distribution and we built and validated a sequential sampling plan for control decision-making.


1996 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Whitaker ◽  
Francis Giesbrecht ◽  
Jeremy Wu

Abstract The acceptability of 10 theoretical distributions to simulate observed distribution of sample aflatoxin test results was evaluated by using 2 parameter estimation methods and 3 goodness of fit (GOF) tests. All theoretical distributions were compared with 120 observed distributions of aflatoxin test results of farmers' stock peanuts. For a given parameter estimation method and GOF test, the negative binomial distribution had the highest percentage of statistically acceptable fits. The log normal and Poisson-gamma (gamma shape parameter = 0.5) distributions had slightly fewer but an almost equal percentage of acceptable fits. For the 3 most acceptable statistical models, the negative binomial had the greatest percentage of best or closest fits. Both the parameter estimation method and the GOF test had an influence on which theoretical distribution had the largest number of acceptable fits. All theoretical distributions, except the negative binomial distribution, had more acceptable fits when model parameters were determined by the maximum likelihood method. The negative binomial had slightly more acceptable fits when model parameters were estimated by the method of moments. The results also demonstrated the importance of using the same GOF test for comparing the acceptability of several theoretical distributions.


Crustaceana ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 1465-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolando Vega-Aguayo ◽  
Guillermo Figueroa-Muñoz ◽  
Marco A. Retamal ◽  
Patricio De los Ríos

Abstract Our knowledge on the status of Hemigrapsus crenulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) populations along the Chilean coast is scarce. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively estimate the spatial distribution and abundance of Hemigrapsus crenulatus in the Puerto Cisnes estuary (44°S, Aysen region, Chilean Patagonia). The spatial distribution appeared to be aggregated, with 3.64 ± 7.99 ind/m2 as gross density, and 10.50 ± 10.62 ind/m2 as a potential ecological density, i.e., if the quadrants with zero individuals are not taken into consideration. The equation of the negative binomial distribution was: where: . The average density of Hemigrapsus crenulatus under stones is lower if all beach surfaces are considered. Its abundance or dominance on estuarine beaches probably would be due to the fact that this species is one of the crustaceans of the lower intertidal level that can survive under a wide range of salinity values.


1975 ◽  
Vol 107 (8) ◽  
pp. 785-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Guppy ◽  
D. G. Harcourt ◽  
M. K. Mukerji

AbstractThis paper presents a sampling plan for estimating numbers of H. postica larvae in the spring growth of alfalfa. A 6-stem bouquet of foliage formed an appropriate sample unit. The pattern of counts for all four instars conformed to the negative binomial distribution, and variance analysis for 89 sets of data revealed that differences between block, plots, and quadrats generally were not significant. For moderate levels of infestation (ca. 12 larvae per bouquet), estimates with acceptable precision may be obtained by taking a single 6-stem bouquet from each of 16 randomly selected ft2 (0.9m2) quadrats within a field, at a total cost of 120 man-minutes.


1975 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 1275-1280 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Harcourt ◽  
J. C. Guppy

AbstractThis paper presents a sampling plan for estimating populations of Hypera postica (Gyll). cocoons in alfalfa, and of the principal mortality factors during this stage. The plan provides for samples in foliage and ground litter. For samples in foliage, where two-thirds of the cocoons are found, the most appropriate sample unit is a bouquet of 6 stems; for typical weevil densities, estimates with acceptable precision may be obtained by taking 25 bouquets at random from within a field. For litter samples, the appropriate sample unit is a quarter ft2 (232 cm2); acceptably precise estimates may be obtained by taking 20 such units at random from within a field. Total cost for a combined sample is 3.9 man-hours.The pattern of counts, both in foliage and ground litter, was well described by the negative binomial distribution.


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