Investigation of total aflatoxin in corn and corn products in corn wet-milling industry

Abstract

In the current study; the presence and the level of total aflatoxin concentrations in corn and corn-based products (namely, corn fiber, corn gluten, and corn starch) obtained from a corn wet-milling industry in Turkey, were analyzed by ELISA method. The samples were collected during the years 2018 and 2019. Among the samples the total aflatoxin concentrations were the least in the corn starch and the highest in the corn gluten. It is reliable to predict that the wet-milling process has an inhibiting effect on the growth of molds and uncontrolled storage conditions can favor this growth of molds, increasing the aflatoxin production. The levels of total aflatoxins in related products were found to be within the tolerable limits specified by FDA, EU, and local regulations for foods and feeds. Practical applications Considering the fields of both directly as food and feed or indirect uses of corn, it is a very important industrial and agricultural crop that necessitates the strict management of process, storage and aflatoxin production control parameters, because of unfavorable health problems created by aflatoxin. For corn wet-milling industry, it should be taken in consideration of steeping process conditions that a well-designed steeping can lower the aflatoxin concentration to levels accepted by regulations. A special care should be taken for storage conditions in order not to favor the aflatoxin production by fungi. A strict and direct correlation exist between the aflatoxin production and temperature and humidity. This study provides information on these parameters for safety products and contributes to corn producers and processors.