Aflatoxin in Indonesian Peanuts: How Can the Contamination within the Food Chain Be Managed?

摘要

Among the various raw and processed peanuts collected from different points of the delivery chain (farmer, penebas, collector, processor and retailer) in Pati Regency, Central Java, the highest Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination were found in raw kernels of peanuts collected from retailers in traditional markets. Postharvest handling methods prior to peanuts being delivered to retailers and especially at the retailer level in traditional markets severely impact on the level of aflatoxin contamination in the Indonesian food chain. Some potential initiatives to minimise aflatoxin contamination, both at the pre and postharvest stages, are discussed in this paper. Critical to the further development of this work is a concentrated effort to monitor postharvest handling methods carried out by farmers, collectors and retailers in traditional markets and identify the critical control points for potential changes needed in their procedures.