The survey of 22 commercial samples of imported green coffee beans for aflatoxins and ochratoxin has been conducted in 1982-1983. Ochratoxin A was detected in 4 samples at a level of 9.9-46μg/kg but all samples analyzed were negative for aflatoxins. Major contaminants of the samples were Aspergillus glaucus group, A, niger group, A. flavus group, A. ochraceus group and members of the Mucorales. Among the contaminants, the ability of A, flavus and A, ochraceus isolates to produce the mycotoxins was examined. Particularly, 9 isolates of A. ochraceus group produced high levels of ochratoxin A on artificial polished rice and ground coffee media (yields of ochratoxin A: 48.3-750μg/g on rice and 8.06-130μg/g on coffee, respectively). Addition of caffeine (0.1-1.0%) on MY-20 agar medium in a Petri dish resulted the delayed growth of A. ochraceus strain S-235-100, a representative isolate from the green coffee beans, but had little effect on its ochratoxin production. On the basis of the results obtained in this study, it is apparent that green coffee beans might be susceptible to A, ochraceus infection and subsequent ochratoxin production.
Some modification was made of the aflatoxin B1 toxicity test employed by Brown R. F. et al. for brine shrimp, and an investigation was made of its application as a toxicity test, based on sensitivity to 13 types of mycotoxin.NaCl was added to sea water in a proportion of 1.7%, and to lml of this solution in a small evaporation dish 20-30 newly hatched brine shrimps were added and exposed to mycotoxin at 30° for 24 hrs.Sterigmatocystin was most sensitive with LC50 of 0.07μg/ml, followed by diaeetoxyscirpenol of 0.12μg/ml, T-2 toxin of 0.13μg/ml, aflatoxin B1 and G1 of 1.4 and 1.9μg/ml respectively, fusarenone X of 1.2μg/ml and ochratoxin A of 3.9μg/ml.Rubratoxin B, citrinin, patulin, penicillic acid and aflatoxin B2, G2 were poor in sensitivity. Thus this method was assumed to be applicable to toxicity test of sterigmatocystin, diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin, fusarenone X and aflatoxin B1 and G1.
Fresh and boiled fish, mackerel, were stored in refrigerater, hot box, and at constant temperature (20°C) and room temperature (6-10°C), and changes of pH, amount of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), amino nitrogen, volatile fatty acid (VFA), histidine and histamine were determined.1) Difference was noted between fresh and boiled fish regarding change in pH.2) To determine the degree of putrefaction at low temperature, study of volatile reductive substance (VRS) was most satisfactory.3) After storage at a constant temperature of 20°C, VFA was produced in both fresh and boiled fish. Acetic and n-butyric acids were produced in greater amounts than formic and propionic acids. Propionic acid was not detected in boiled fish.4) In the hot box, VBN, amino N and VRS were produced in larger amounts than in the refrigerater after 24-48hrs, but thereafter there was seen no increase.5) After storage at a constant temperature (20°C) histidine decreased in fresh fish, and there was seen production of histamine.In the case of boiled fish, a decrease of histidine was also seen, but production of histamine did not occur.
The raw materials of processed foods were purchased at twelve places acccording to the “market basket” approach. The contents of 49 natural food additives in the purchased raw materials were analyzed. The amounts of chemically synthesized natural food additives used in food processing were calculated by subtracting the contents in raw materials from the contents in the processed foods. Total daily intake of chemically synthesized natural food additives from processed foods was suggested to be about 3g.