Brazil Nuts & Aflatoxins

[Guest guest]

J. Agric. Food Chem. 2007, 55, 9305–9310 9305

Characteristics of In-Shell Brazil Nuts and Their

Relationship to Aflatoxin Contamination: Criteria for

Sorting

External characteristics of in-shell Brazil nuts were

evaluated for dimensions (length and face width),

weight, chromaticity, and shell thickness. The

internal characteristics evaluated were moisture

content

(mc), aflatoxin contamination (analyzed by LC-MS/MS),

and shell/nut ratio. According to their length,

Brazil nuts were classified in three groups: I, II,

and III, corresponding to large, medium, and small

sizes, respectively. It was possible to establish the

following parameters as standards for normal/

healthy nuts: length (53.2, 43.9, and 36.6 mm), weight

(12.9, 8.8, and 6.3 g), and shell chromaticity

components (L*, 38.3, 39.5, and 41.6; a*, 8.0, 7.9,

and 7.8; and b*, 17.6, 18.0, and 18.7), for the

three groups, respectively. The mean of shell

thicknesses were 1.92 and 2.68 mm taken from each

face and nut top. The nuts, classified as small (Group

III), presented aflatoxin B1 contamination at a

level of 5.62 & #956;g/kg. The Groups shell/nut ratios

were 1.2, 1.2, and 1.3 for normal whole and healthy

nuts. No aflatoxin was detected in Groups I and II.

The data obtained from the Brazil nut measured

characteristics can help to distinguish healthy/safe

and deteriorated nuts and will be useful for Brazil

nut sorting and machine development.

[Guest guest]

On Nov 4, 2007, at 11:02 AM, Jeff Novick wrote:

> J. Agric. Food Chem. 2007, 55, 9305–9310 9305

>

> Characteristics of In-Shell Brazil Nuts and Their

> Relationship to Aflatoxin Contamination: Criteria for

> Sorting

>

>

> External characteristics of in-shell Brazil nuts were

> evaluated for dimensions (length and face width),

> weight, chromaticity, and shell thickness. The

> internal characteristics evaluated were moisture

> content

> (mc), aflatoxin contamination (analyzed by LC-MS/MS),

> and shell/nut ratio. According to their length,

> Brazil nuts were classified in three groups: I, II,

> and III, corresponding to large, medium, and small

> sizes, respectively. It was possible to establish the

> following parameters as standards for normal/

> healthy nuts: length (53.2, 43.9, and 36.6 mm), weight

> (12.9, 8.8, and 6.3 g), and shell chromaticity

> components (L*, 38.3, 39.5, and 41.6; a*, 8.0, 7.9,

> and 7.8; and b*, 17.6, 18.0, and 18.7), for the

> three groups, respectively. The mean of shell

> thicknesses were 1.92 and 2.68 mm taken from each

> face and nut top. The nuts, classified as small (Group

> III), presented aflatoxin B1 contamination at a

> level of 5.62 & #956;g/kg. The Groups shell/nut ratios

> were 1.2, 1.2, and 1.3 for normal whole and healthy

> nuts. No aflatoxin was detected in Groups I and II.

> The data obtained from the Brazil nut measured

> characteristics can help to distinguish healthy/safe

> and deteriorated nuts and will be useful for Brazil

> nut sorting and machine development.

Can I assume this means we may want to avoid small in-shell Brazil nuts?