Survey of North Dakota sunflower seeds for aflatoxin

In a survey of oil-type sunflower seeds, 89 samples were collected from 32 storage bins in 10 counties of North Dakota in 1979. None of these survey samples exceeded the 20 ppb Food and Drug Administration aflatoxin guideline. Four research samples, from 2 grossly spoiled storages, contained 100-1100 ppb aflatoxin B1. This research is believed to be the first to document natural aflatoxin contamination in sunflower seeds.