scholarly journals The Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Nuts and Dry Nuts Packed in Four Different Plastic Packaging from the Romanian Market

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Adrian Maximilian Macri ◽  
Ioana Pop ◽  
Daniel Simeanu ◽  
Diana Toma ◽  
Ion Sandu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Plastic Material ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Heat Current ◽  
Dried Fruits ◽  
Pistachio Nuts ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Cleanup Procedure ◽  
Elisa Technique

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungi. A very important category of mycotoxins are aflatoxins, considered to be the most dangerous in humans. Aflatoxin B1, well known as a favorable factor in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans, is the most controversial of all mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, found in naturally contaminated food, are resistant to degradation by heat. Current food processing practices and conventional storage conditions do not completely eliminate aflatoxin contamination from the food supply chain. Long storage food products—such as peanuts, pistachio, nuts in general, and dried fruits—are susceptible to aflatoxins contamination. The type of plastic material can influence the concentration of aflatoxins during storage due to the permeability to gas and moisture exchange with the external milieu. Nuts in general and dried fruits are consumed in large quantities worldwide. Therefore, herein we investigated the effect of plastic material on the total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 content in 64 samples of nuts and dried fruits packed and stored in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The method consisted in a cleanup procedure using immunoaffinity columns coupled with RIDASCREEN FAST immunoenzymatic competitive assays based on the ELISA technique. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis and multiple comparisons tests were applied. From the total analyzed samples, 14.06% exceeded the maximum admitted European levels for total aflatoxins. The highest concentrations of total aflatoxins were obtained from samples packed in LDPE, followed by PP, PE, and PET. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in all samples packed in LDPE, PP, and PE. Most of the samples packed in PET had concentrations <1 µg/kg. These results indicate that nuts in general packed and stored in LDPE are more prone to contamination with aflatoxins, while PET is more suitable for maintaining the quality and safety of these products.

scholarly journals Seasonal milk contamination by aflatoxin m1, organophosphates and carbamates in Paraná – Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 2145
Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Crispim de Oliveira Ramos ◽  
Julio Cesar Damasceno ◽  
Ricardo Kazama ◽  
Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme Vieira ◽  
Maximiliane Alavarse Zambom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Colorimetric Method ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Aflatoxin M1 ◽  
Milk Contamination ◽  
Chemical Residues ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Layer Chromatography

Aiming to evaluate the milk contamination in the dairy production systems (DPS) for mycotoxins and chemical residues of organophosphates and carbamates it was made a study encompassing 96 DPS in three regions of Parana state. There were collected samples of milk, water and food and they were evaluated for chemical residues in all samples and aflatoxin only for food and milk. Mycotoxins in food (aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, zearalenone and ochratoxin) were detected by the method of thin layer chromatography – TLC and for the determination of aflatoxin M1 was used an immunoassay kit competitive ELISA Ridascreen®. The residues of organophosphates and carbamates were performed by colorimetric method qualitatively. There were evaluated the differences between regions, periods and the sources of mycotoxin contamination. Carbamates and organophosphates were screened for their presence in milk and the sources of food and water. Then it was estimated the contributions of each mycotoxin for milk contamination, as well as their respective contaminated food. Differences were found between periods (p &lt; 0,05) for milk contamination with aflatoxin M1 – AFM1. For carbamates and organophosphates were found different contamination sources (p &lt; 0,01). For the carbamates the source were pesticides used to parasitic herd control and for the organophosphates pesticides used in agriculture. For food sources contamination resulting in the AFM1 contamination it was detected that aflatoxin B1 – AFB1 was the main source. The aflatoxin G1 – AFG1 showed a strong correlation (p &lt; 0,01) with AFB1 levels suggesting causal relationship is a function of fungal strains producing both at the same time. It was also found the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in 70% of contaminated samples and its predominant presence in relation to other mycotoxins in all kinds of foods analyzed. By identifying the checkpoints of contamination can be proposed the inclusion of practical management methods to avoid this.

scholarly journals Validation of New ELISA Technique for Detection of Aflatoxin B1 Contamination in Food Products versus HPLC and VICAM

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 747
Author(s):  
Elsayed Hafez ◽  
Nourhan M. Abd El-Aziz ◽  
Amira Darwish ◽  
Mohamed Shehata ◽  
Amira Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Cell Epitope ◽  
Epitope Prediction ◽  
Molecular Size ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Elisa Technique

Toxin-contaminated foods and beverages are a major source of illness, may cause death, and have a significant negative economic impact worldwide. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent toxin that may induce cancer after chronic low-level exposure. This study developed a quantitative recombinant AflR gene antiserum ELISA technique for aflatoxin B1 detection in contaminated food products. Aflatoxin B1 residuals from 36 food samples were analyzed with HPLC and VICAM. DNA was extracted from aflatoxin-contaminated samples and the AflR gene amplified using PCR. PCR products were purified and ligated into the pGEM-T vector. Recombinant plasmids were sequenced and transformed into competent E. coli (BL21). Molecular size and B-cell epitope prediction for the recombinant protein were assessed. The purified protein was used to induce the production of IgG antibodies in rabbits. Serum IgG was purified and labeled with alkaline phosphatase. Finally, indirect-ELISA was used to test the effectiveness of polyclonal antibodies for detection of aflatoxin B1 in food samples.

scholarly journals Detection of Aflatoxin B1 through indirect ELISA from fresh grains obtained from three maize growing zones of India

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 796-798
Author(s):  
Shrvan Kumar ◽  
Asha Sinha ◽  
Meena Shekhar ◽  
Vimla Singh
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Indirect Elisa ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Maize Seed ◽  
Local Varieties ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Elisa Technique ◽  
Zone Ii ◽  
Care Costs

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is most frequently found in plant substrates, which has shown the highest toxigenic potential. Based on previous studies, the IARC has classified AFB1 as a class 1A human carcinogen. Several impacts on consumers, such as loss of human and animal lives; health care and veterinary care costs; contaminated foods and feeds disposal costs; and investment in research and management of the myco-toxin problem. Fourteen maize seed samples comprising of recommended and local varieties were collected from three maize growing zones (Zone I- Almora, Kullu, Bilaspur, Dhaulakuan, Kangara, Saharanpur, Zone II- Karnal, Ludhiana, Pantnagar, New Delhi and Zone III- Begusarai, Varanasi, Sabour-1 and Sabour 2). In our studies AFB1 toxin range were noticed Zone-I (0.0294- 153.5081 ppb), Zone-II (0.1761- 161.0537 ppb ppb) and Zone-III (3.8366- 53.1256 ppb) collected seed samples.This indicate that ELISA technique could be applied to the monitoring of Aflatoxin contamination in a lot of samples in a cost, accuracy, simplicity and time effective manner.

Aflatoxin Contamination in Foods and Foodstuffs in Tokyo: 1986-1990

1993 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Setsuko Tabata ◽  
Hisashi Kamimura ◽  
Akihiro Ibe ◽  
Hideki Hashimoto ◽  
Mami Iida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Edible Oil ◽  
Red Pepper ◽  
White Pepper ◽  
Brazil Nuts ◽  
Pistachio Nuts

Abstract Aflatoxins were determined in 3054 samples of foods or foodstuffs, including cereals, nuts, beans, spices, dairy products, dry fruits, and edible oil. Samples were collected in Tokyo from 1986 to 1990. Aflatoxins were found in rice products, adlay, corn, crude sugar, peanut products, pistachio nuts, brazil nuts, sesame products, butter beans, white pepper, red pepper, paprika, nutmeg, and mixed spices. The highest incidence of aflatoxin contamination was observed in nutmeg (80%), and the highest level of aflatoxin B1 was observed in pistachio nuts (1382 ppb).

scholarly journals Impacts of Climate Change Interacting Abiotic Factors on Growth, aflD and aflR Gene Expression and Aflatoxin B1 Production by Aspergillus flavus Strains In Vitro and on Pistachio Nuts

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
Alaa Baazeem ◽  
Alicia Rodriguez ◽  
Angel Medina ◽  
Naresh Magan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Water Stress ◽  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Pistachio Nuts ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Spoilage Fungi

Pistachio nuts are an important economic tree nut crop which is used directly or processed for many food-related activities. They can become colonized by mycotoxigenic spoilage fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus, mainly resulting in contamination with aflatoxins (AFs), especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The prevailing climate in which these crops are grown changes as temperature and atmospheric CO2 levels increase, and episodes of extreme wet/dry cycles occur due to human industrial activity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of interacting Climate Change (CC)-related abiotic factors of temperature (35 vs. 37 °C), CO2 (400 vs. 1000 ppm), and water stress (0.98–0.93 water activity, aw) on (a) growth (b) aflD and aflR biosynthetic gene expression and (c) AFB1 production by two strains A. flavus (AB3, AB10) in vitro on milled pistachio-based media and when colonizing layers of shelled raw pistachio nuts. The A. flavus strains were resilient in terms of growth on pistachio-based media and the colonisation of pistachio nuts with no significant difference when exposed to the interacting three-way climate-related abiotic factors. However, in vitro studies showed that AFB1 production was significantly stimulated (p < 0.05), especially when exposed to 1000 ppm CO2 at 0.98–0.95 aw and 35 °C, and sometimes in the 37 °C treatment group at 0.98 aw. The relative expression of the structural aflD gene involved in AFB1 biosynthesis was decreased or only slightly increased, relative to the control conditions at elevated CO, regardless of the aw level examined. For the regulatory aflR gene expression, there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in 1000 ppm CO2 and 37 °C for both strains, especially at 0.95 aw. The in situ colonization of pistachio nuts resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) stimulation of AFB1 production at 35 °C and 1000 ppm CO2 for both strains, especially at 0.98 aw. At 37 °C, AFB1 production was either decreased, in strain AB3, or remained similar, as in strain AB10, when exposed to 1000 ppm CO2. This suggests that CC factors may have a differential effect, depending on the interacting conditions of temperature, exposure to CO2 and the level of water stress on AFB1 production.

scholarly journals A Novel Niosome-Encapsulated Essential Oil Formulation to Prevent Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Contamination of Maize Grains During Storage

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 646 ◽  
Author(s):  
García-Díaz ◽  
Patiño ◽  
Vázquez ◽  
Gil-Serna
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Oil Formulation ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Encapsulation Method

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination of maize is a major concern for food safety. The use of chemical fungicides is controversial, and it is necessary to develop new effective methods to control Aspergillus flavus growth and, therefore, to avoid the presence of AFs in grains. In this work, we tested in vitro the effect of six essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic plants. We selected those from Satureja montana and Origanum virens because they show high levels of antifungal and antitoxigenic activity at low concentrations against A. flavus. EOs are highly volatile compounds and we have developed a new niosome-based encapsulation method to extend their shelf life and activity. These new formulations have been successfully applied to reduce fungal growth and AF accumulation in maize grains in a small-scale test, as well as placing the maize into polypropylene woven bags to simulate common storage conditions. In this latter case, the antifungal properties lasted up to 75 days after the first application.

scholarly journals A Case for Regular Aflatoxin Monitoring in Peanut Butter in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from a 3-Year Survey in Zambia

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 795-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAMUEL M. C. NJOROGE ◽  
LIMBIKANI MATUMBA ◽  
KENNEDY KANENGA ◽  
MOSES SIAMBI ◽  
FARID WALIYAR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Peanut Butter ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Batch Number ◽  
Sub Saharan

ABSTRACT A 3-year comprehensive analysis of aflatoxin contamination in peanut butter was conducted in Zambia, sub-Saharan Africa. The study analyzed 954 containers of 24 local and imported peanut butter brands collected from shops in Chipata, Mambwe, Petauke, Katete, and Nyimba districts and also in Lusaka from 2012 to 2014. For analysis, a sample included six containers of a single brand, from the same processing batch number and the same shop. Each container was quantitatively analyzed for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in six replicates by using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; thus, aflatoxin contamination level of a given sample was derived from an average of 36 test values. Results showed that 73% of the brands tested in 2012 were contaminated with AFB1 levels &gt;20 μg/kg and ranged up to 130 μg/kg. In 2013, 80% of the brands were contaminated with AFB1 levels &gt;20 μg/kg and ranged up to 10,740 μg/kg. Compared with brand data from 2012 and 2013, fewer brands in 2014, i.e., 53%, had aflatoxin B1 levels &gt;20 μg/kg and ranged up to 1,000 μg/kg. Of the eight brands tested repeatedly across the 3-year period, none consistently averaged ≤20 μg/kg. Our survey clearly demonstrates the regular occurrence of high levels of AF B1 in peanut butter in Zambia. Considering that some of the brands tested originated from neighboring countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the current findings provide a sub-Saharan regional perspective regarding the safety of peanut butter.

Impact of maximum levels in European legislation on exposure of mycotoxins in dried products: Case of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in nuts and dried fruits

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 112-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien Van de Perre ◽  
Liesbeth Jacxsens ◽  
Carl Lachat ◽  
Fouad El Tahan ◽  
Bruno De Meulenaer
Keyword(s):  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Dried Fruits ◽  
European Legislation

scholarly journals Changes in Fungal Population and Aflatoxin Levels and Assessment of Major Aflatoxin Types in Stored Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Maina Wagacha ◽  
Charity K. Mutegi ◽  
Maria E. Christie ◽  
Lucy W. Karanja ◽  
Job Kimani
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Fungal Population ◽  
Total Aflatoxin ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Polyethylene Bags ◽  
Jute Bags ◽  
The Eu

<p>Peanut kernels of Homabay Local, Valencia Red, ICGV-SM 12991 and ICGV-SM 99568 cultivars were stored for six months in jute, polypropylene and polyethylene bags to assess the effect of storage bags, temperature and R.H. on fungal population and aflatoxin contamination. Moisture content (M.C.), fungal population and aflatoxin levels were determined before storage and after every 30 days during storage. Isolates of <em>Aspergillus flavus</em> and <em>A. parasiticus</em> were assayed for production of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2. The correlation between MC, population of <em>A. flavus</em> and <em>A. parasiticus</em> and aflatoxin levels in peanuts was also determined. Six fungal pathogens were commonly isolated from the peanut samples and occurred as follows in decreasing order: <em>Penicillium</em> spp. (106.6 CFU/g), <em>A. flavus</em> L-strain (4.8 CFU/g), <em>A. flavus</em> S-strain (2.9 CFU/g), <em>A. niger </em>(2.6 CFU/g), <em>A. parasiticus </em>(1.7 CFU/g) and <em>A. tamarii </em>(0.2 CFU/g). The overall population of <em>A. flavus</em> L-strain was 66% higher than that of <em>A. flavus</em> S-strain. Ninety one percent of <em>A. flavus</em> and <em>A. parasiticus</em> isolates produced at least one of the four aflatoxin types assayed, with 36% producing aflatoxin B1. Total aflatoxin levels ranged from 0 - 47.8 µg/kg with samples stored in polyethylene and jute bags being the most and least contaminated, respectively. Eighty nine percent and 97% of the peanut samples met the EU (? 4 µg/kg) and Kenyan (? 10 µg/kg) regulatory standards for total aflatoxin, respectively. Peanuts should be adequately dried to safe moisture level and immediately packaged in a container - preferably jute bags - which will not promote critical increases in fungal population and aflatoxin contamination.</p>

scholarly journals Aflatoxin B1 risk management in Parmigiano Reggiano dairy cow feed

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgia Canestrari ◽  
Barbara Ricci ◽  
Valentina Pizzamiglio ◽  
Alberto Biancardi ◽  
Pierluigi Piazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Quality Control Program ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Feed Samples ◽  
Parmigiano Reggiano ◽  
The Eu

This study investigated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in dairy cow feed and the risk management of AFB1 content in concentrates undertaken by feed industries in the Parmigiano Reggiano area. Data on aflatoxin contamination risk management applied in 29 feed industries were collected and the AFB1 content of 70 feed samples was analyzed. Data were collected within the framework of a quality control program promoted by the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium in 2013 and 2014. Audit results showed that the control procedures to prevent AFB1 contamination mainly focused on maize and its by-products. AFB1 concentration resulted lower than 5 ppb (legal EU limit) in all samples; in one out of 70 samples, AFB1 content was 3.8 ppb and in all the other samples it was lower than 3 ppb. Results showed that AFB1 risk management applied by Italian feed industries effectively monitors AFB1 levels in feed below the EU legal limit.

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