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Study of aflatoxin in peanuts, from harvest to industrialization, in the region of Santa Adélia, S.P.

In the present work the occurrence of aflatoxin in peanut (Arachis hypagaea L.) in the region of Santa Adélia, S.P., was investigated in three Stages, from harvest to industrialization: a) by the time the grower sells it to the oil mill: Epochs I and II; b) during its storage prior to milling: Epochs III and IV and c) after oil extration (peanut flour) : Epochs V and VI. In each Stage two collections of 10 samples each, were made in a total of 40 samples of peanuts and 20 samples of peanut flour. From the results the following conclusions could be drawn: 1) all samples, except one, were toxic; 2) the toxicity level, in terms of aflatoxin B , was hight, for 55% of the samples were in the category "High" and 31.6% in the category "Very High"; 3) the levels of aflatoxin were higher in Stages 1 and 2 (peanuts), decreasing in Stage 3 (peanut four); 4) five samples were excessively toxic with more than 10.00 ppm; 5) the aflatoxin is already present in peanuts when the grower take it to the oil mill, but it was not possible to detect, in this region, the influence of storage.


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