Aflatoxins: Environmental Factors Governing Occurrence in Spanish Peanuts

Abstract

Aflatoxins are absent from freshly harvested peanuts although Aspergillus flavus infest most of the kernels from pods having visible openings. Microbial competition, governed by kernel moisture, limits aflatoxin content of kernels. The toxins are subject to microbial breakdown but the amount broken down is governed by initial aflatoxin concentration.