Sterigmatocystin - incidence, fate and production byA versicolor in ras cheese

Sterigmatocystin (STG) is a toxic metabolite produced by severalAspergillus species. Because of its toxic and carcinogenic properties the occurrence of STG in food is considered to represent a potential hazard to man. The present study was designed to investigate following points: 1 A survey of STG incidence in Ras cheese on local markets. Ras cheese samples were collected from Cairo, Giza and Kalubia governorates. Thirty five percent of the samples contained the toxin with a mean value of 22.23 μg /kg 2 Fate of STG contaminating milk during Ras cheese processing. Milk was artificially contaminated with 125 μg/kg and processed into Ras cheese. Eighty percent of the toxin was distributed into the curd and 20% into the whey. Cheese ripening effected toxin content and the effect was temperature dependent. At 6°C: toxin concentration was slightly affected; at 20°C the toxin was reduced by 16% after 90 days when low toxin concentration was used. 3 Formation of STG byA versicolor mold on Ras cheese. Ras cheese blocks were contaminated with spores of the mold. Toxin production started after 45 days of ripening and reached a maximum at 90 days and then declined. Cow's milk favoured toxin production over buffaloe's. Aged cheese inhibited toxin production.