Applied Biology and Biochemistry
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Browsing Applied Biology and Biochemistry by Subject "Aflatoxin"
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- ItemAflatoxin Carryover during Large Scale Peanut Butter Production.(Scientific Research, 2011-04) Siwela, Andrew H.; Mukaro, Kudzayishe J.; Nziramasanga, NoziphoPeanut butter was monitored for aflatoxin contamination at different stages during its large-scale production starting from raw shelled peanuts up to the final product. Twenty five samples, weighing 2 kg each, were taken from each of the following stages: roasting at 160°C, blanching/de-skinning and grinding. The sub-samples were ground, thoroughly mixed and further reduced by the quartering technique until a 1 kg sub-sample was obtained. This was then analyzed for aflatoxins using reverse phase HPLC incorporating pre-column trifluoroacetic acid derivatization. The results showed a total aflatoxin percentage reduction of 51% after roasting, 27% after blanching/de-skinning followed by a further 11% after grinding to make peanut butter. This meant that there was a cumulative total reduction of 89% of aflatoxin concentration during the production process of peanut butter. These results show that there is a significant reduction of aflatoxin levels at the roasting and blanching stages in the process of producing peanut butter.
- ItemDecontamination of aflatoxin-contaminated maize by dehulling(Society of Chemical Industry., 2005) Siwela, Andrew H.; Siwela, Mthulisi; Matindi, Gibson; Dube, S.; Nziramasanga, NoziphoDehulling of maize grains as an aflatoxin decontamination method was investigated. Sixty kilograms of maize (whose average moisture content was 110 g kg−1) were thoroughly mixed and divided into two samples. The kernel moisture content of one sample was adjusted to 200 g kg−1 while the other (control) was left at 110 g kg−1. The two samples were kept at ambient temperature (25–30 ◦C) for 21 days. Twenty sub-samples, ten from each, were further divided into two so that one lot was dehulled while the other was not dehulled. These sub-samples were then milled to pass through a 1mm screen and the meal was evaluated for aflatoxin contamination. It was found that there was a 92% decrease in aflatoxin levels in dehulled maize meal compared with undehulled maize meal. We therefore suggest that dehulling the grain can be used to reduce aflatoxin levels in maize.
- ItemRegulatory aspects of aflatoxin control in Zimbabwe - a review(JASSA, 1999) Siwela, Andrew H.; Nziramasanga, NoziphoAflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic chemicals produced by fungi of the Aspergillus family. As the fungi may be found growing on virtually all stored agricultural commodities and foodstuffs, many countries have put in place regulations to control the levels of afJatoxins and other mycotoxins that may be found contaminating foodstuffs and stock feeds. Current regulations and aflatoxin control in Zimbabwe is based on a voluntary code of conduct drawn in 1971 which putthe action limit at between 4f,glkg to 20!.glkg aflatoxin G, (AFG,J or Sf,glkg to 2Sf,glk9 aflatoxin B, (AFB1) for human consumption. Any commodity contaminated by Aflatoxin greater than these limits should be used for stock feed and those below these limits could be used for the export market. The 2Sfl9/kg AFB, action limit has been levi sed to 20f'9/kg by the statutory instrument of 1990 under the Food Standard Act of 1971. This paper reviews work that has been done in the past ten years in the monitoring and control of aflatoxin in foodstuffs and feeds. Aflatoxin levels in foods, stock feeds, urine and human milk from a cross section of the population have shown that the population and livestock are exposed to aflatoxin. Disease outbreaks in livestock have also been linked to aflatoxins and other mycotoxins. It is recommended that aflatoxin monitoring be intensified in support of the Food Standards Act and the voluntary code of conduct be made into a legal instrument to control transmission of aflatoxin in the food chain.