isolated from intermediate moisture foods, such as the genus
Aspergillus and xerophilic fungi such as A. candidus and E. chevalieri,
especially after some of the volatile acetic acid had evaporated.
In the course of drying, an increased occurrence of Aspergillus
section Flavi and Aspergillus section Nigri was also observed, which
are important groups of potentially aflatoxin and ochratoxin
producers, respectively. The prevalence of beans infected with
A. flavus reached 100% in some samples. This aflatoxigenic species
was isolated from 11.3% of drying samples. The values found for
Aspergillus parasiticus were lower. Regarding the potentially
ochratoxigenic fungi, A. niger was the most prevalent species, followed
by A. carbonarius and the group of A. ochraceus at a lower
number . At one stage of the drying process, these species
were exposed to moisture and temperature that may allow mycotoxin
production.