Abstract
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungi. A very important category of mycotoxins are aflatoxins, considered to be the most dangerous in humans. Aflatoxin B1, well known as a favorable factor in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in humans, is the most controversial of all mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, found in naturally contaminated food, are resistant to degradation by heat. Current food processing practices and conventional storage conditions do not completely eliminate aflatoxin contamination from the food supply chain. Long storage food products—such as peanuts, pistachio, nuts in general, and dried fruits—are susceptible to aflatoxins contamination. The type of plastic material can influence the concentration of aflatoxins during storage due to the permeability to gas and moisture exchange with the external milieu. Nuts in general and dried fruits are consumed in large quantities worldwide. Therefore, herein we investigated the effect of plastic material on the total aflatoxins and aflatoxin B1 content in 64 samples of nuts and dried fruits packed and stored in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The method consisted in a cleanup procedure using immunoaffinity columns coupled with RIDASCREEN FAST immunoenzymatic competitive assays based on the ELISA technique. Collected data were subjected to statistical analysis and multiple comparisons tests were applied. From the total analyzed samples, 14.06% exceeded the maximum admitted European levels for total aflatoxins. The highest concentrations of total aflatoxins were obtained from samples packed in LDPE, followed by PP, PE, and PET. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in all samples packed in LDPE, PP, and PE. Most of the samples packed in PET had concentrations <1 µg/kg. These results indicate that nuts in general packed and stored in LDPE are more prone to contamination with aflatoxins, while PET is more suitable for maintaining the quality and safety of these products.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight, produced by various fungi that are able to grow on different agricultural commodities
Great attention has been paid to the aflatoxin-producing fungi belonging to the Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus species due to their ability to grow on a variety of food matrices [6] and to synthesize aflatoxins, which are some of the most dangerous mycotoxins [7]
Aflatoxin B1 (AfB1 ) is considered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be the most carcinogenic compound produced by fungi [8]
Summary
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight, produced by various fungi that are able to grow on different agricultural commodities. Aflatoxin B1 (AfB1 ) is considered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to be the most carcinogenic compound produced by fungi [8]. A large body of evidence shows that hepatocellular carcinoma can be induced by aflatoxins. Up to 50% of the patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (reported from regions where population exposure to aflatoxins is high) display a specific point mutation in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene [9]. Considering the negative impact of aflatoxins on human health, worldwide organizations have set maximum admitted levels for different food types [10,11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
