Category Archives: Aflatoxin

Belgium – Pistachios from the brand DO IT ORGANIC BARNEVELD

AFSCA

Recall by FLOURPOWER BV
Product: “biologische pistachenoten” pistachios from the brand DO IT ORGANIC BARNEVELD.
Problem: too high aflatoxin content.
In agreement with the FASFC, FLOURPOWER BV is withdrawing pistachios “biologische pistachenoten” of the brand DO IT ORGANIC BARNEVELD from sale and recalling them from consumers because of an excessively high aflatoxin content.

FLOURPOWER BV asks its customers not to consume this product and to return it on Saturday to the point of sale in which it was purchased.

Product description:
– Product name: biologische pistachenoten (pistachios)
– Brand: DO IT ORGANIC BARNEVELD
– Date of minimum durability (BDD) (“Best before (or end)”): 01/08/2023
– Batch number: 010823-D / 12
– Sale period: from 03/21/2022 to 12/31/2022
– Nature of packaging: paper bag
– Weight: 500g.

The product was distributed by:
Flourpower BV Artemeersstraat 14 A 9880 Aalter

For further information, contact:

FLOURPOWER BV
Tel: 0465 09 41 03
E-mail: kwaliteit@flourpower.be

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Dried Figs – Pistachios – Rice – Hazelnut Kernels – Nuts

RASFF

High content of aflatoxins in shelled pistachios form Türkiye, origin USA in Turkey and Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxin in Turkisch Pistachios in the Netherlands and France

RASFF

Aflatoxin in Pakistan Rice in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in hazelnuts kernels from Azerbaijan in France

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Level of aflatoxins exceeding limits in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF

Aflatoxin in nuts from Georgia in Italy

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Aflatoxin in pistachios from the Netherlands in Denmark

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxins – Dried Figs – Pistachios Kernels – Whole Nutmeg – Blanched Peanut Halves – Groundnut Kernels

RASFF

Excessive levels of aflatoxins (aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

Aflatoxins in organic pistachio kernels from Iran in Japan, Lithuania and the Netherlands

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Aflatoxins in whole nutmeg from Indonesia in Belgium

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Aflatoxin in Blanched peanuts halves from Argentina in Poland

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Aflatoxin B1 in Groundnut Kernels from the United States in the Netherlands

Pakistan- LOOSE MILK SALE TO BE BANNED IN PUNJAB – Aflatoxin

Ary News

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has decided to ban sale of loose milk in Lahore and then implement the decision gradually across the province, sources told ARY News on Tuesday.

According to sources, the PFA has decided to impose a ban on the sale of loose milk citing a number of reasons including presence of aflatoxin (a cancer-causing chemical) and lack of  pasteurization (heating to a specified temperature and time to kill pathogens that may be found in the raw milk) recommended for sale of milk.

RASFF Alert – Aflatoxins – Pistachios – Maize – Peanuts – Dried Figs – Marsala Spice Mix

RASFF

Presence of aflatoxins above legal limits in shelled pistachios from United States via Romania in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in maize from France in the Netherlands

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Aflatoxins above the permited limit in peanuts from China in Spain

RASFF

Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

Presence of aflatoxins above legal limits in shelled pistachios from United States via Turkey in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxins in pistachios from the United States, via Türkiye in Italy

RASFF

Level of aflatoxins exceeding limits in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF

Exceedance of maximum limits of aflatoxins in masala spice mix from Pakistan in France

Research – Inhibition of Aflatoxin Production by Citrinin and Non-Enzymatic Formation of a Novel Citrinin-Kojic Acid Adduct

MDPI

Abstract

Screening for microorganisms that inhibit aflatoxin production from environments showed that Penicillium citrinum inhibited aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus. The inhibitory substance in the culture medium of P. citrinum was confirmed to be citrinin (CTN). RT-PCR analyses showed that CTN did not inhibit expressions of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes (aflRpksL1, and fas-1) of A. parasiticus, whereas feeding experiments using A. parasiticus showed that CTN inhibited the in vivo conversion of dihydrosterigmatocystin to AFB2·AFG2. These results suggest that CTN inhibits a certain post-transcriptional step in aflatoxin biosynthesis. CTN in the culture medium of A. parasiticus was found to be decreased or lost with time, suggesting that a certain metabolite produced by A. parasiticus is the cause of the CTN decrease; we then purified, characterized, and then analyzed the substance. Physico-chemical analyses confirmed that the metabolite causing a decrease in CTN fluorescence was kojic acid (KA) and the resulting product was identified as a novel substance: (1R,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydro-6,8-dihydroxy-1-(3-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl)-3,4,5-trimethyl-1H-isochromene-7-carboxylic acid, which was named “CTN-KA adduct”. Our examination of the metabolites’ toxicities revealed that unlike CTN, the CTN-KA adduct did not inhibit aflatoxin production by A. parasiticus. These results indicate that CTN’s toxicity was alleviated with KA by converting CTN to the CTN-KA adduct.

Composition-Based Risk Estimation of Mycotoxins in Dry Dog Foods

MDPI

Abstract

The risk of mycotoxins co-occurrence in extrusion-produced dry foods increases due to their composition based on various grains and vegetables. This study aimed to validate a risk estimation for the association between ingredients and the ELISA-detected levels of DON, FUM, ZEA, AFs, T2, and OTA in 34 dry dog food products. The main ingredients were corn, beet, and oil of different origins (of equal frequency, 79.41%), rice (67.6%), and wheat (50%). DON and FUM had the strongest positive correlation (0.635, = 0.001). The presence of corn in the sample composition increased the median DON and ZEA levels, respectively, by 99.45 μg/kg and 65.64 μg/kg, p = 0.011. In addition to DON and ZEA levels, integral corn presence increased the FUM median levels by 886.61 μg/kg, = 0.005. For corn gluten flour-containing samples, DON, FUM, and ZEA median differences still existed, and OTA levels also differed by 1.99 μg/kg, < 0.001. Corn gluten flour presence was strongly associated with DON levels >403.06 μg/kg (OR = 38.4, RR = 9.90, = 0.002), FUM levels >1097.56 μg/kg (OR = 5.56, RR = 1.45, = 0.048), ZEA levels >136.88 μg/kg (OR = 23.00, RR = 3.09, = 0.002), and OTA levels >3.93 μg/kg (OR = 24.00, RR = 3.09, = 0.002). Our results suggest that some ingredients or combinations should be avoided due to their risk of increasing mycotoxin levels.

Research – Emerging Method to Protect Food Crops from Carcinogenic Aflatoxins

Food Safety.Com

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA’s ARS) are using a bioplastic coating to naturally shield seeds from Aspergillus, a type of fungi that produces aflatoxin. Exposure to aflatoxins is a food safety issue due to the compound’s carcinogenic and other harmful effects.

In the U.S., Southern agriculture is most affected by aflatoxins, as hot, dry conditions promote Aspergillus growth and aflatoxin production. Recent science has shown, however, that the Midwestern Corn Belt may be increasingly affected in the near future due to climate change. Corn is highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, as are seeds, nuts, feed, stored grain, and other important crops.

The new method for mitigating aflatoxin contamination of crops involves coating seeds with a protective, innocuous strain of Aspergillus, delivered via a mixture of biodegradable, corn starch-based bioplastic and biochar. The competitive Aspergillus strain found in the coating prevents aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus from infecting the seed, and other components of the mixture create a physical barrier that prevents contamination.  

Research – Evaluation of the dietary exposure of the Catalan population to mycotoxins of the genus Fusarium

ACSA

Within the framework of total diet studies, the Catalan Food Safety Agency (ACSA) publishes a second study on the evaluation of mycotoxins: “Evaluation of the dietary exposure of the Catalan population to mycotoxins of the genus Fusarium”.

In 2014, a first study was published in which the presence of the main mycotoxins in food intended for human consumption in the Catalan market was determined, and the intake of food linked to this contamination to estimate the food exposure of the population residing in Catalonia, and evaluate the risk to health (ACSA, 2014). Considering the results obtained, the ACSA considered it necessary to carry out this second, more specific study on mycotoxins, evaluating those that were found most frequently in the foods of the Catalan market, the mycotoxins of the genus Fusarium, and also taking into account the most exposed population groups.

The present study shows that the mycotoxins detected with greater frequency were DON and ENNB followed, with a much lower frequency, by mycotoxin T-2 and mycotoxins FB1 and DON-3G. The rest of mycotoxins analyzed (3-ADON, 15-ADON, NIV, FUS-X, zearalenone, HT-2, FB2 and FB3) will always present levels below the detection limit.

All the age groups evaluated have an exposure to DON and ENNB lower than the respective safety values. The average exposure of the adult population and children in Catalonia to the mycotoxin DON presents values ​​between 7.5% and 10.1% of the safety value. The average exposure of the population to ENNB presents values ​​​​that are two orders of magnitude lower than the extrapolated safety values.

Total diet studies make it possible to better understand the reality linked to the main chemical pollutants that reach the Catalan market, and in this way specific decisions can be made to correct possible risk situations for the health of consumers.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Peanuts – Pistachios – Dried Figs

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxins in peanuts from the United States in Germany

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Aflatoxins in dried organic figs from Turkey in Germany

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Aflatoxins in pistachios from Turkey in Germany

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Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in Greece

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Aflatoxins in peanuts from the United States in Germany