Cornell on Aflatoxin

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

" In Raw Agricultural Products :

Aflatoxins often occur in crops in the field prior to harvest .

Postharvest contamination can occur if crop drying is delayed and

during storage of the crop if water is allowed to exceed critical

values for the mold growth . Insect or rodent infestations facilitate

mold invasion of some stored commodities.

Aflatoxins are detected occasionally in milk, cheese, corn, peanuts,

cottonseed, nuts, almonds, figs, spices, and a variety of other foods

and feeds . Milk, eggs, and meat products are sometimes contaminated

because of the animal consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feed .

However, the commodities with the highest risk of aflatoxin

contamination are corn, peanuts, and cottonseed.

In Processed Foods :

Corn is probably the commodity of greatest worldwide concern ,

because it is grown in climates that are likely to have perennial

contamination with aflatoxins and corn is the staple food of many

countries . However, procedures used in the processing of corn help

to reduce contamination of the resulting food product . This is

because although aflatoxins are stable to moderately stable in most

food processes , they are unstable in processes such as those used in

making tortillas that employ alkaline conditions or oxidizing steps .

Aflatoxin-contaminated corn and cottonseed meal in dairy rations have

resulted in aflatoxin M1 contaminated milk and milk products ,

including non-fat dry milk , cheese , and yogurt. "

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/aflatoxin/aflatoxin.ht

ml#Occurence

http://snipurl.com/biwk

Rodney.