44G-17 |
Ammoniation of aflatoxin contaminated raw peanuts at ambient temperature and pressure |
A. M. MOUSTAFA1, J. N. Losso1, J. M. King1, and D. L. Park2. (1) Department of Food Science, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, (2) Center for Food Science & Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Division of Natural Products, 200 C St., HFS-345, Washington, DC 20204 Ammonia at 0.5 to 7% has been successfully used around the world to inactivate aflatoxin in contaminated commodities (peanut meal, cottonseed, and corn). Ammoniation, as a decontamination process for aflatoxin reduction, is approved by safety and regulatory agencies such as FAO, FDA, and USDA. The effectiveness of ammonia was reported to be associated with long exposure time, high temperature (100°C), and high pressure. These conditions are not cost effective in developing countries. Also, ammoniation of whole peanut seeds has never been conducted. The objective was to study the effect of ammonia concentration, exposure time, ambient temperature and pressure on the detoxification of aflatoxins in contaminated raw peanuts. The moisture content of the peanut samples (7%) was adjusted to 20%. AFB1 (400 ppb and 600 ppb) contaminated peanut samples (200 g ) were exposed to ammonia vapor (2% and 4%) in tightly closed desiccators at 22°C and atmospheric pressure for 24 and 48 h. Samples were air dried, extracted with acetonitrile-water (9:1), cleaned up through Mycosep columns, derivatized, and analyzed by HPLC. The mutagenicity of the ammoniated samples was tested using the Ames assay. Aflatoxin B1 was reduced by 79-99% in peanut samples exposed to 2% ammonia vapor for 24 h. When the exposure time was increased to 48 h, a complete detoxification (100% reduction) occurred. Peanut samples treated with 4% ammonia were completely detoxified (100% reduction) after 24 h exposure to ammonia vapor. Samples contaminated with 600 ppb aflatoxin had a 95% aflatoxin reduction (24 and 48 h). No mutagenic effect was observed with all decontaminated samples. The significance of this study is that high temperature, high pressure, and long exposure time are not necessary for the decontamination of aflatoxin contaminated peanuts. Increasing peanut moisture content to 20% may have permitted better penetration of ammonia vapor in the seeds.
Session 44G, Toxicology & Safety Evaluation
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