Aflatoxins mitigation in peanut meals: From single treatments to integrated strategies

As a protein-rich by-product of peanut oil extraction, peanut meal is widely used in animal feed. It is also becoming more widely acknowledged as a viable source of protein for food products. However, it is highly vulnerable to contamination by aflatoxins (AFTs), particularly aflatoxin B₁, which has been designated as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. AFTs in peanut meal pose serious hazards to food and feed safety. It may cause large financial losses, which limit its use. Currently, physical, chemical, or biological strategies are employed, each presenting significant practical challenges. Because of their increased effectiveness and less detrimental effects on product quality, integrated approaches have emerged as promising alternatives. There is currently a lack of a thorough analysis and fragmented studies on the mitigation of AFTs in peanut meal. This review offers a comprehensive overview of those technologies for peanut meal. It explores integrated approaches after methodically outlining chemical, biological, and physical techniques. The benefits and drawbacks of different technologies were also evaluated in comparison. Additionally, the mechanisms of single and integrated approaches were also covered. To promote the development of efficient, secure, and commercially feasible technologies, major obstacles and future research avenues were finally discussed. This review enables food science researchers and food safety regulators to quickly understand the research overview, and also offering theoretical foundations and insights for future studies.