Effect of drying and storage conditions on aflatoxin incidence in copra.
1989
Villanueva V.N.
In attempt to minimize if not prevent aflatoxin incidence in copra as well as improve its quality and stability, optimum conditions for drying and storage were established by determining the optimum drying temperature, the optimum moisture content prior to storage, and the effective control of microbial growth and contamination by washing (pretreatment), application of 200 ppm sodium hypochlorite, 5% sodium metabisulfite and by sulfur treatment. Drying of coconuts using an optimum drying temperature of 50-71 deg C resulted in prevention of case hardening, charring, formation of stress cracks, and rubbery copra. With this mode of drying, effective moisture reduction was attained subsequently producing stable and good quality copra with moisture contents ranging from 6.0-6.8%. Washing of coconuts and application of microbial inhibitors (200 ppm sodium hypochlorite and 5% sodium metabisulfite) resulted in reduction of microbial count after drying but it did not improve the stability of copra during storage. Application of sulfur in copra further rendered the product stable for three months of storage at room temperature by arresting microbial growth and contamination and oxidative rancidity. Microbial identification and screening for aflatoxin production showed that the predominant microorganisms growing in copra, Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, and Aspergillus species, were not capable of producing aflatoxin as verified by TLC analysis.
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