Aflatoxin distribution and total microbial counts in an edible oil extracting plant. I. Preliminary observations

Groundnut (peanut) kernels, groundnut and cotton-seed pellets and groundnut and cotton-seed oils (crude and refined) were screened for aflatoxins. The groundnut kernels and groundnut and cotton-seed pellets were additionally examined for total microbial counts as well as for certain types of micro-organism. All samples contained aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) while a quantitative estimation of aflatoxin B1 revealed that all samples contained this aflatoxin in varying amounts. The study identified in substantial numbers several types of micro-organisms that have been associated with industrial and health hazards.