Drying is fundamental in the processing of Brazil nuts to prevent contamination by aflatoxins which are produced by fungi, as well as to extend the shelf life of the product. The binomial time/temperature is applied to guarantee the efficiency of drying stages. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters of moisture content (mc) and water activity (Aw) in processed and unprocessed nuts obtained from a processing plant in the Amazonas state, Brazil, during the harvests of 2019 and 2020. Differences were observed regarding Aw between the harvests, and in processed and unprocessed samples. However, for mc, no differences between years or interaction between factors were observed. Processed samples from 2019 and 2020 showed a significant reduction in moisture content when compared to unprocessed samples and this may be because some modernization occurred in the drying process and raw material was stored under better conditions. We therefore conclude that the time/temperature binomial has a direct impact on product safety and should be applied from the moment of collection of raw material until the industrial process begins to guarantee economic maintenance of the production chain.
The Brazil nut is a nutritionally rich food, produced and consumed in tropical regions. On the other hand, it may be suitable to toxigenic fungi and consequently contamination by aflatoxins (AFL), toxic substances to consumers. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of AFL in raw Brazil nuts, that is, before being subjected to industrial drying stages. Of 23 samples were purchased at retail in the city of Manaus-Am-Brazil and evaluated by high performance and liquid chromatography for total AFL (B1+b2+G1+G2). From the samples, 8.6 % were positive for total AFL and. Only AFG1 and AFG2, were detected in the LOD (0.8 μg/kg) and met to the limit of <10 µg/kg of current legislation in Brazil and European Union. In conclusion, despite the contaminated samples met the legal limits, that seems the AFL contamination could happen in raw Brazil nut, as it has been reported in dried seeds. In this sense, some effort in the initial steps of the Brazil nut chain must be applied to mitigate AFL contamination before reach the factory processing.
Objective: Evaluate exposure to aflatoxins in processed Brazil nut (chopped and sliced) products marketed in Amazonas State. Methods: The samples were purchased during the 2017 harvest at the local retail in the city of Manaus/AM/Brazil in the form of sliced and chopped. Moisture content (MC) and water activity (aw) were verified, aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) were quantified by liquid chromatography. To characterize the risk of exposure to genotoxic use the population margin of exposure (MOE). Results: Chopped and sliced Brazil nut samples analyzed here presented an MC average of 1.62% and water activity of 0.26. These values indicate that samples are safe, according to physical-chemical baselines. Regarding aflatoxins presence, 8% of the samples presented aflatoxins total levels >10 μg/kg. A risk evaluation was performed in which exposure of the population to these substances is observed and, once found; the MOE was 1036 ± 793 (<10 000). Conclusion: Regarding the risk assessment, it was possible to observe that there is a possibility exposure of the population to these substances since the average of MOE found was 1036±793, or <10 000, characterizing this possible risk.
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