AFLATOXIN IN FOOD AND FEED - OCCURRENCE, LEGISLATION AND INACTIVATIONBY PHYSICAL METHODS

Affatoxins are secondary metabolites of the molds Aspergillus flavus a nd Aspergillus parasiticus. They are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratoge nic and carcinogenic compounds found to contaminate a wide variety of important agricultural products such as peanuts, maize, rice and cotto nseed. Aflatoxins are found in many countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where conditions of temperature and humidity a re optimum for growth of the molds and for production of the toxin. Re moval or inactivation of aflatoxin in food and feedstuffs is a major g lobal concern. Aflatoxins can be detoxified or removed from contaminat ed foods and feeds by physical, chemical and biological methods. This article reviews some aspects of aflatoxins concerning their occurrence in food and feedstuffs, legislation and detoxification by physical me thods. The physical methods include solvent extraction, adsorption, he at treatment and irradiation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.