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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Controlled-release of Chlorine Dioxide in a Perforated Packaging System to Extend the Storage Life and Improve the Safety of Grape Tomatoes
Published on: April 7, 2017
Reduction of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin on almond kernels using gaseous chlorine dioxide fumigation
Bhargavi Rane1, Alison Lacombe2, Jiewen Guan1
1Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; Biological Systems Engineering Department, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6120, USA.
Abstract:
The almond industry suffers product losses caused by mold growth and toxin contamination. Gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) has the potential for postharvest reduction of mycotoxic Aspergillus flavus. In this study, almonds inoculated with A. flavus were fumigated with gaseous ClO2 for 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, and 24 h using a dry precursor sachet batch method. The headspace concentration ranged from 0.5 to 2.4 mg/L, depending on initial dosing and time. At its highest concentration, gaseous ClO2 demonstrated an 84.4 % degradation efficiency of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) with a reduction of 2.4 log CFU/g of A. flavus on almond kernels. Additionally, suppression of AFB1 continued after one-month storage at 4 °C. No significant oxidative effect and color difference (ΔE) was observed on the treated kernels. The almond industry can apply gaseous ClO2 technology to reduce mold contamination and product losses.
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