Effect of specific treatments on reducing aflatoxins B1 and B2 of contminated peanuts

Sixty samples of roasted peanuts were purchased from random supermarkets of Great Cairo Governorates were analyzed for the presence of aflatoxins B1 [AFB1] and B2 [AFB2]. The results proved that 86.7% of the analyzed samples were positive for AFB1 and 55% were positive for AFB2. 48.1% of the positive samples exceeded the maximum permissible level of FAO [20 microg/kg]. Naturally contaminated peanuts were roasted after treatment by safe doses of different chemicals in order to get rid of its aflatoxins content. Roasting decreased AFB1 by 82.81% and AFB2 by 89.51%. Treatments of the contaminated peanut by different solutions decreased it's content of AFB1. The treatment of peanuts by sodium chloride solution of 0.1% concentration decreased the level of AFB1 by [92.25%]. Moreover, H2O2 solution of concentration of 0.1% reduced the aflatoxins B1 by 92.4%, sodium bicarbonate solution of 0.1% resulted in 98.5% reduction of AFB1, sodium bicarbonate 0.1% with H2O2 0.1% [98.9%], calcium hydroxide 0.1% [99.4%], ammonium bicarbonate 0.1% [99.79%]. The previous calculated reduction percentages were calculated after roasting the same treated samples. AFB2 concentration was decreased by the same previous treatments as 95.41%, 96.98%, 99.15%, 99.61%, 99.57%, 99.86%, respectively. AFB1 and AFB2 residues were not detected in the roasted peanut after treatment with each of calcium hydroxide [0.1%] with H2O2 0.1%, ammonium bicarbonate 0.1% with H2O2 0.1%. All the applied treatments reduced aflatoxins content in the naturally contaminated peanut below the maximum acceptable limit of 20 microg/kg

Inhibition of aflatoxins and ochratoxin a production in corn [Zea mays] by certain food preservatives

The effect of propionic acid, ammonia and methionine on aflatoxins and ochratoxin A production by Aspergillus parasiticus and Penicillium verrucosum in autoclaved and non-autoclaved corn was investigated. The tested mycotoxins were determined by HPLC using fluorescence detector. The results indicated that the inhibition of toxins production vary between the three tested preservatives and the concentration of each as well. The higher inhibition of toxins production was obtained using a mixture which consists of equal volumes of propionic acid [65%], ammonia [2%] and methionine [0.2%]. In non-autoclaved corn, the inhibition of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin G1 production was 99.6% and 99.7% respectively, while aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G2 and ochratoxin A production were completely inhibited. Meanwhile, in autoclaved corn, the inhibition of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and ochratoxin A reached 83.0%, 83.6%, 85.7%, 83.1% and 86.4%, respectively

Chemical composition, metals content and pesticide residues in raw, pasteurized and UHT milk and their dietary intake

Chemical composition, metal contents and pesticide residues were determined in raw, pasteurized and UHT [Ultra High Temperature] milk samples collected from local markets in Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Fat, T.P. [Total Protein], ash, lactose and T.S. [Total Solids] contents were [3.50, 3.20, 0.71, 4.10 and 11.40%], [3.00, 3.50, 0.80, 4.65 and 11.50%], and [3.00, 3.40, 0.80, 4.44 and 11.50%] in raw, pasteurized and UHT milk, respectively. Levels of Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd and Sn were [3.59, 0.62, 0.17, 0.06, 0.03, 0.036, 0.032, 0.032, 0.025 and 0.002 mg/kg], [3.11, 0.55, 0.15, 0.041, 0.030, 0.030, 0.030, 0.021, 0.022 and 0.002 mg/kg] and [3.11, 0.60, 0.180, 0.050, 0.020, 0.030, 0.030, 0.020, 0.020 and 0.002 mg/kg] in raw, pasteurized and UHT milk, respectively. Organochlorine pesticides [HCB, lindane, aldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane, endrin and DDT metabolites] were detected in raw milk at levels higher than the tolerance limits. However, these chemicals were detected in pasteurized milk at slightly higher levels and in UHT milk at levels lower than the tolerance limits. On the other hand, non of raw, pasteurized and UHT milk revealed the presence of organophosphorus pesticides [malathion, profenofos, pirmiphos-methyl and dimethoate]. To assess any possible risks to consumers of milk, dietary intakes have been estimated using the mean concentration of various metals and pesticide residues in this monitoring. Data showed that, daily intake of the investigated metals and pesticides in milk were lower than the recommended levels except that Pb and Cd are higher than it

Analysis of some chemical and biological contaminants during wheat milling

Mycotoxigenic fungi, mycotoxins, pesticides and heavy metals were estimated in wheat, flour, bran, shorts and wheat germ. Samples were collected from different commercial milling lines in Great Cairo Governorate. Results showed that the most frequently isolated fungi were Aspergillus, Pencillium and Fusarium. The highest total fungal count was recorded in bran [14.3 x 10[-3] cfu] followed by shorts [11.9 x 10[3] cfu] and wheat germ [10.1 x 10[3] cfu] comparable with that of flour [3.1 x 10[3] cfu]. Nevertheless, the aflatoxins [AFs] were not detected in all collected samples. Ochratoxin A [OTA] was detected in 40%, 30%, 30%, 26.7% and 13.3% of bran, shorts, wheat germ, wheat and flour, respectively. The mean concentration of OTA in wheat was 4.15 ppb and it was 3 ppb in flour which considered lower than the permissible limits being 5 Pb. The obtained results indicated that heptachlor and o. p-DDE were the major pesticides contaminant in wheat and milling fractions and the highest mean level of heptachlor was detected in bran 0.017 ppm, whereas it was 0.033 ppm of o. p-DDE in shorts. The highest mean levels of lead [Pb] and cadmium [Cd] were found in shorts [0.482 and 0.097 ppm, respectively], while the lowest level of Pb [0.194 ppm] and Cd [0.034 ppm] were detected in flour