Survey of peanut fungal contamination and its relationship with ambient conditions in the Bazar of Zanjan

Different food products such as corn, wheat and peanut have shown high potential to be contaminated in suitable environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. Some fungi can produce toxins, like Aflatoxin, and some of them are carcinogen. The purpose of this research was to study fungal contamination in peanuts being sold in the BAZAR of the city of Zanjan. 20 samples of 50g roasted and salted peanuts and 16 samples of 50g unsalted peanuts [pure] were collected from Zanjan Bazar. Ambient conditions such as light intensity, temperature and air flow of the BAZAR and also the relative humidity of peanuts were measured. Samples were analyzed for fungal colony and were identified using slide culture technique. Results showed that Mold fungi were dominant among the colonies as. Aspergillus flavus [39.1%], Penicillium [9.2%], Rhizopus [7.2%], Mucor [2.5%], Alternaria [1.03%] and Nigrospora [0.5%]. Temperature and the samples relative humidity were higher than the standard range. The results indicated a significant relation between relative humidity, light intensity, temperature and peanuts' type [pure or salted] with level of fungal contamination. Also, roasting and processing reduced the relative humidity of peanuts and the level of contamination. Hence roasting, salting and provision of appropriate ambient conditions can be useful to peanut storage

[Evaluation of Cow's milk allergy among infants with bloody stools]

Cow's milk allergy [CMA] is an immunologic phenomenon to the proteins present in Cow's milk. It frequently appears with gastrointestinal [GI] problems such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloody stool. Its frequency is about 1.9 - 7.5% and symptoms usually appear in early months of life. In this study, we assess CMA in infants with rectorrhagia. In this study infants [< 2years] with complaints of rectorrhagia reporting at the children's clinic at Imam Khomeini Hospital were included. Inclusion criteria comprised of parents' report of passage of bloody stools, absence of infeetion and local conditions such as anal fissure, acidic PH and lactase deficiency. Then formal consents were taken, skin prick test and open food challenge test were performed. Those who were refractory to diet without cow's milk protein were assessed by colonoscopic procedure. Among 198 infants with rectorrhagia, 51 patients were eligible for this study [41% bo1.s . 58.8% girl and with mean age of 5.3 month] . Besides rectorrhagia other manifestation was: diarrhea [80%], abdominal pain [56.9%]. Atopic dermatitis [21.6%] and recurrent vomiting [10%]. Skin prick test were done in 37 cases which was positive in 18 pts. 47 patients had positive challenge tests, in 4 patients with negative challenge test was colonsopy performed. Two cases had nodularity with eosinophilia infiltration, allergic colitis were reported in the others. All patients [including these 4 cases] reponded well to exclusion diet. It has been shown in this study that Cow's Milk Allergy [CMA] has a significant prevalence in infants [<2 years] with rectorrhagia . The definite diagnosis is made by challenge test and the treatment is exclusion diet. According to the results, it is recommended that CMA should be taken in to consideration in children exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms