Aflatoxin: Highly encouraging study for food industry
May 14, 2019 at 1:41 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Joint cooperation to eliminate aflatoxin
The study investigating ways of employing bentonite to eliminate aflatoxin from nuts and sun-dried food was conducted in cooperation between the Unye Mine Mining Engineers and the ITU Food Engineering Department. Bentonite, also known as bentonite clay, is an absorbent, which is commonly used in cat litter, detergents and cosmetics as well as in some food products. As Hamit Tecer, Chairman of the Unye Mine Mining Engineers, explains bentonite is an edible natural clay, which is widely used in the food industry due to its binding nature. He further notes that aflatoxin may be formed in all sun-dried food and that it is difficult to eliminate once it has been ingested. Tecer highlights that some types of aflatoxin are very damaging to human health “especially the B1 variety found in dry foods such as nuts. He further emphasises that “it is very important to eliminate aflatoxin from nuts or sun-dried products”.
Bentonite reduces aflatoxin by 94%
Dr Beraat Özçelik, Head of the Department of Food Engineering of the ITU explains that the study started some time ago and that the results are highly encouraging for the food industry. He states, that “according to accredited laboratory results it was found that the addition of bentonite clay to some foods reduced the dangerous aflatoxin B1 by about 94 percent”. Özçelik is confident that, “if applicable, it can have a widespread effect because aflatoxin is really is a very serious problem”.
Some companies have now started using bentonite in manufacturing hazelnut paste. Tecer illustrates that “when 1% bentonite was added to hazelnut paste, the B1 aflatoxin ratio decreased by 94%”. A new study started in April, which focuses on the developments in the orchards and during drying as bentonite was sprayed on the twigs of the hazelnut trees.
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