FDA Issues Compliance Guide on Aflatoxins

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a compliance policy guide on aflatoxins in human food. “Aflatoxins may occur in food as a result of mold growth in susceptible raw agricultural commodities,” the guide explains. “The growth of molds that produce aflatoxins is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and extent of rainfall during the pre-harvesting, harvesting, or post-harvesting periods. Foods most susceptible to molds that produce aflatoxins include: peanuts, corn, some tree nuts including Brazil nuts and pistachios, and some small grains such as rice. Because aflatoxins are known carcinogens to humans, the presence of aflatoxins in foods should be reduced to the lowest levels attainable using modern agricultural and processing techniques.” FDA issued guides for aflatoxins in brazil nuts, peanuts and peanut products, and pistachio nuts.