MYCOFLORA AND AFLATOXIN LEVELS IN WALNUT SAMPLES STORED IN DIFFERENT PACKAGING MATERIALS IN OGUN STATE

Aflatoxin levels in nuts and fruits pose a great threat to food storage and availability. This study aimed at determining the mycoflora and aflatoxin level in stored walnut under various conditions. Freshly harvested walnuts were stored for 90 days in three different media: jute bags, Plastic containers and sterile polythene bags under room (37ᵒC) and refrigeration (4ᵒC) temperature. After 90 days of storage, the stored walnuts were examined for fungal growth at one month interval after which colonial and morphological characterization were carried out to identify the fungi present. Proximate analysis and aflatoxin content of the walnut samples were determined by standard methods. Fungi isolated from the walnuts include; Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Penicillum notatum, Aspergillus sydowi, Fusarium oxysporium, and Rhizopus stolonifer. Walnuts stored in plastic container at room temperature had the lowest aflatoxin level of 0.002 ng/kg while that stored in polythene bags had the highest (0.054 ng/kg). Proximate analysis also revealed that walnuts stored in polythene bag reduced significantly (p<0.05) in protein, ash content, fat, fibre, moisture and carbohydrates while samples stored in jute bag and plastic container remained unchanged. This study shows that storage methods contributed to the overall quality, shelf life and aflatoxin content of walnut and hence care should be taken during post harvesting process.

Effect of Packaging on the Stability of Stored Dry Silver Cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea)

Dried silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea) has the potential to provide an affordable and accessible food-based strategy to fight malnutrition among Ugandans and enrich diets of the vulnerable persons. However, there is inadequate information on changes in the nutritional content and safety of stored dry silver cyprinid along the local handling chain. This study evaluated the effect of conventionally used packaging on microbial safety and nutrient quality of dry silver cyprinid during storage. Freshly dried silver cyprinid was obtained from stores at four landing sites on Lake Victoria and stored in open and closed gunny bags for 8 weeks. Samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of storage and assessed for nutritional and microbial quality. The type of packaging used (open or closed gunny bags) had no significant effect on most nutrient content and microbial safety parameters (p >0.05) except iron content, aflatoxin content, and TVBN content. Open gunny bags had higher aflatoxin content, greater iron degradation and greater variation in TVBN as compared to closed gunny bags throughout the storage duration. The observed difference in some of the quality parameters can be attributed to increased permeability to oxygen and moisture in open gunny bags as compared to closed gunny bags.

Simultaneous Estimation of Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) in Corn Samples

Aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus flavins and Aspergillus pasasiticus have been investigated in the corn (maize) collected in different locations in Andhra Pradesh state, India. In the present study, 24 corn samples collected from different harvest, storage and dumping areas were analyzed for detection of aflatoxin contamination by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Mixed aflatoxin working standard solutions with a concentration of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 ng/mL were prepared and followed by instrumental analysis and the retention times of the sample chromatograms were compared with the standard aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 retention times in order to determine the contamination. The findings revealed that among 24 collected samples, only 10 samples have been found positive for aflatoxins contamination when subjected to LC-MS analysis. Co-occurrence of aflatoxin was identified in the most of the samples. Even though 10 samples were tested positive total aflatoxin content in the most positive are found within the acceptable limits (30 μg/kg) and samples collected at dumping areas (S4, S8 and S10) show the presence of exceeding quantity than the limits described by FSSAI. Total aflatoxin content in the most positive were found within the acceptable limits (30 μg/kg) and the samples collected at dumping areas S4 (40.9 μg/kg), S8 (53.2 μg/kg) and S10 (71.86 μg/kg) had shown exceeding limits. The sample S7 collected from the storage was also found positive of presence of aflatoxin G2- 13.49 μg/kg and B2-21.14 μg/kg with total aflatoxin of 34.65 μg/kg. High contamination of these dumping areas may lead to contamination of storage points nearer to these areas. Present results showed that the corn samples at dumping areas were found to be contaminated with the Aspergillus flavins and Aspergillus pasasiticus.

STANDARDIZATION STUDY OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION: ARTHRUM OINTMENT

To access the quality of drug the standardization is very critical. As per WHO guidelines, 80% of the peoples have relied on traditional medicine in a rising nation. Most of the conventional system is valuable but a lack of standardization. The parameters studied are physicochemical parameters, heavy metal analysis, aflatoxin content, pesticide residue and microbial analysis. These values will help to obtain the batch-to-batch variation in Arthrum ointment. This is used to treat different types of pain. We calculated and discussed physicochemical parameters, heavy metal analysis, aflatoxin content, pesticide residue and microbial analysis. The scientific method for its quality and safety evaluation is not yet to be documented. Hence in the current work, an attempt has been made to evaluate the quality parameters to be used for its preparation and processing.

Aflasafe SN01 is the first biocontrol product approved for aflatoxin mitigation in two nations, Senegal and The Gambia

Aflatoxin contamination is caused by Aspergillus flavus and closely related fungi. In The Gambia, aflatoxin contamination of groundnut and maize, two staple and economically important crops, is common. Groundnut and maize consumers are chronically exposed to aflatoxins, sometimes at alarming levels, and this has severe consequences on their health and productivity. Aflatoxin contamination also impedes commercialization in local and international premium markets. In neighboring Senegal, an aflatoxin biocontrol product containing four atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus, Aflasafe SN01, has been registered and is approved for commercial use in groundnut and maize. We detected that the four genotypes composing Aflasafe SN01 are also native to The Gambia. The biocontrol product was tested during two years in 129 maize and groundnut fields and compared with corresponding untreated fields cropped by smallholder farmers in The Gambia. Treated crops contained up to 100% less aflatoxins than untreated crops. A large portion of the crops could have been commercialized in premium markets due to the low aflatoxin content (in many cases no detectable aflatoxins), both at harvest and after storage. Substantial aflatoxin reductions were also achieved when commercially-produced groundnut received treatment. Here we report for the first time the use and effectiveness of an aflatoxin biocontrol product registered for use in two nations. With the current scale-out and -up efforts of Aflasafe SN01, a large number of farmers, consumers, and traders in The Gambia and Senegal will obtain health, income, and trade benefits.

Fate of aflatoxins during almond oil processing

Almonds rejected as inedible are often used for production of almond oil. However, low-quality almonds are frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, and little is known regarding transfer of aflatoxins to almond oil during processing. In this study, oil was produced from reject almonds by hexane extraction. Of 19 almond samples that were naturally contaminated with aflatoxins, 17 oil samples contained measurable amounts of aflatoxins, and aflatoxin content of contaminated oil was correlated with aflatoxin content of the nuts. However, oil aflatoxin levels were not correlated with the oxidation level of the oil as measured by percent free fatty acids and peroxide value. Adsorbents used in oil refining were tested for their ability to remove aflatoxins from contaminated oil. Fuller’s earth and bentonite were the most effective, removing 96% and 86% of total aflatoxins from contaminated oil samples, respectively. Treatment with diatomaceous earth, in contrast, had no effect on aflatoxin levels in oil. These results show that oil refining steps using mineral clay adsorbents may also function to remove aflatoxins from contaminated oil.

Moisture and Aflatoxin Contents of Kenyan Market Peanuts and Decontamination with Water, Lime and Ultraviolet Radiation Treatments

In the recent past, aflatoxin in peanuts and products has been a subject of controversy in Kenya. In the early 2019, some brands of locally manufactured peanut butter were withdrawn from the market shelves on account of containing aflatoxin higher than the national tolerance. It has been established that Kenyan market peanuts contain high levels of aflatoxin. Roasting is reported to have little effect on the aflatoxin content. This study was designed to assess the effect of specific treatments prior to roasting in reducing the aflatoxin levels to below the tolerance. This would then ensure compliance of the toxin levels in the roasted peanuts and the products with the national tolerance. The treatments included soaking in water, in lime, and UV irradiation. The peanut samples were collected from 20 vendors in the Main Cereal Market in Nairobi and brought to the laboratory of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). They were analysed for moisture and aflatoxin content. Each sample was subjected to the treatment and reduction was evaluated in aflatoxin to the tolerance. The moisture content of the peanuts varied from 5.2 – 8.4% with mean of 6.5%. Moisture almost complied with the optimum for storage of 8.0%. The total aflatoxin contents varied from 3.3 – 38.5 ppb with mean of 14.8 ppb. Up to 45% samples had aflatoxin above tolerance of 10 ppb. There was positive and significant (p < 0.01) correlation between aflatoxin levels and moisture content. Treatment of the peanuts with water (cold & warm) and warm lime and irradiation with UV all managed to reduce the aflatoxin contents to below the tolerance, in the order lime>warm water>cold water>UV irradiation. The study concluded that the moisture content of the market peanuts in Kenya, almost complies with recommended optimum for storage the tolerance, but the mean aflatoxin content was well above the tolerance. However, the aflatoxin levels can be lowered effectively by soaking in water, lime, and by irradiation with UV.

Effect of Blanching on Aflatoxin Contamination and Cross-Contamination of Almonds

ABSTRACT Blanching of almonds was examined for reducing the aflatoxin content of contaminated nuts. Almonds with intact pellicles were spiked with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and blanched at 85°C. Following blanching, almond kernels and pellicles contained 20 and 19% of the spiked AFB1, respectively. The blanching water contained an additional 41% of the spiked AFB1. In a separate study, postblanching water was spiked with AFB1 and used for subsequent blanching of uncontaminated almonds. The resulting blanched kernels acquired 3.3% of the AFB1 from the spiked water, demonstrating a low level of cross-contamination from reused contaminated blanching water. The effect of the blanching temperature on partitioning of AFB1 from almonds to blanching water was significant at a 20-ppb spiking level, but not at 100 ppb. AFB1 levels that were unaccounted for in the mass balance of blanching components were presumed to be lost due to binding to water-solubilized almond components and were independent of pH and blanching time. Blanching reduced total aflatoxins in naturally contaminated almonds by 13 to 76%, depending on almond quality, as well as blanching time and temperature. These results indicate that the association between almond components and aflatoxin generated through mold contamination is more complex than in spiking experiments. HIGHLIGHTS