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Recently, a news about the excessive mycotoxin of pistachio has attracted widespread attention. According to related reports, some batches of pistachios contain mycotoxins that exceed safety standards, posing a potential threat to consumers' health. This incident has once again raised people's attention to food safety issues and reminded companies to be more cautious in food production.
What are mycotoxins?
Mycotoxin is a secondary toxic metabolite produced by fungi during growth and reproduction, which is very harmful to the health of both humans and animals.
Mycotoxin contamination commonly found in nuts.
There are 16 kinds of common mycotoxins in nuts, including aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, Fusarium A, Fusarium A1, Fusarium B, Fusarium B1, Beauveria bassianiana, Rattan toxin, Alternadorol, Alternaria methyl ether, ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B.
Interpretation of mycotoxins and contaminants standards of the National Food Safety Standard for Nuts and Seeds.
GB 2761-2017 National Food Safety Standard Limits of mycotoxins in foods stipulates the limits of mycotoxins in nuts and seeds, which are summarized in the table below.
As a popular food, the food safety of nuts has always been a concern. The mycotoxin excesses have once again reminded us that even seemingly healthy foods can be a safety hazard.
Causes of mycotoxin excess
Raw material contamination: Nuts are rich in protein and fatty acids and are inherently susceptible to mycotoxin contamination;Nut ingredients can be contaminated with mold during planting, harvesting, processing and storage. These molds may have adhered to the surface of nuts in the growing environment, or spread through air, water, or other contact surfaces during storage and transportation.
Improper control of the production process:
In the process of nut processing, if the production environment is not hygienic conditions, the disinfection of production equipment is not thorough, or the processing process is not strictly followed by the operating procedures, it can lead to the growth of mold.
Poor storage and transportation conditions:
Nuts can also grow mold during storage and transportation in a humid and warm environment, or if they are poorly ventilated. Especially in some non-standard warehouse or transportation conditions, nuts may be affected by humidity, high temperature and other adverse environmental influences, and then breed mold.
Control measures
1. Strengthen the control of raw materials.
For the procurement of nut raw materials, we should choose high-quality, pollution-free raw materials, and ensure the freshness and hygienic quality of raw materials. At the same time, during the storage and transportation of raw materials, good environmental conditions such as dryness, ventilation, and shade should be maintained to prevent mold breeding.
2. Strengthen the control of the production process.
In the process of nut processing, strict production operation procedures and hygiene management systems should be established to ensure the cleaning and disinfection of production equipment. At the same time, the production environment should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to reduce the potential for mold growth. In addition, nuts can also be disinfected by ultraviolet irradiation, ozone disinfection, chemical disinfectants (oxytech) and other methods during the production process.
3. Improve storage and transportation conditions.
In the process of nut storage and transportation, good environmental conditions such as dryness, ventilation, and shade should be selected, and the warehouse and transportation tools should be kept clean and hygienic. At the same time, warehouses and transports should be disinfected regularly to reduce the possibility of mold growth. In addition, measures such as modified atmosphere packaging and low-temperature storage can be used to inhibit the growth of mold.