Experimental aflatoxin production in home-made yoghurt

Fungal growth and aflatoxin production by an aflatoxigenic strain during the manufacture of yoghurt are described. This completes previous studies which show that yoghurt may be a good substrate for aflatoxin production. Two factors were of special interest: (a) the temperature of the elaboration process (45 degrees C) and (b) the effect of lactic bacteria. Either during the elaboration of yoghurt or during its cooling from 45 degrees C to 4 degrees C, the necessary conditions required to start fungal growth are given; these are adequate enough for the synthesis of small quantities of aflatoxins. However our results do not clearly show that lactic bacteria have an influence on fungal growth and aflatoxin production.