Aflatoxin B, production
The effect of the various packaging and storage
conditions on aflatoxin B, production by A. j%.rvu.s
are shown Figures l-2. Levels of aflatoxin B,,
greater than the regulatory limit of 20 rig/g or 20
ppb, were detected in all air packaged peanuts
with the highest level of aflatoxin (-76 rig/g))
being detected in peanuts packaged in film AS1 at
20°C (Fig. 1). Lower levels of aflatoxin B, were
detected in air packaged peanuts in more permeable
films to 0, and COz, i.e. film AS11 and ASIII,
particularly at higher storage temperatures (Fig. 1).
Statistical analysis of the results for air packaged
peanuts showed that the model used was highly
significant (P 5 0.001) with a coefficient of determination
of O-91. The results also showed that
storage temperature, film type and the interaction
between these two variables had a significant effect
(P I 0.001) on the level of aflatoxin B, produced
by A. fl~us in air packaged peanuts. A comparison
of the means of the three films showed that
film AS1 was significantly different (P I OWl)
from film AS11 and AS111 with respect to aflatoxin
production in air packaged peanuts.
The level of aflatoxin Bi detected in all gas
packaged peanuts (65% CO,:35% N2) was always
less than the regulatory limit of 20 rig/g (Fig. 2).
However, higher levels of aflatoxin were consistently
found in gas packaged peanuts in
high-medium gas barrier films at higher storage
temperatures or in film AS111 at all storage temperatures
(Fig. 2). Statistical analysis of aflatoxin
production in gas packaged peanuts also showed
that film type, storage temperature and the interaction
between these variables were again highly
significant (P 5 0.001) with respect to aflatoxin
production in gas packaged peanuts. A comparison
of the means showed that film AS1 was
significantly different (P I 0.001) from film AS11
and AS111 and that it would be the most appropriate
film to use in conjunction with gas packaging
to control growth of, and aflatoxin production
by A. flavus to < 20 rig/g,, particularly under
higher temperature storage conditions.