Journal of Food: Microbiology, Safety & Hygiene
Open Access
ISSN: 2476-2059
ISSN: 2476-2059
Laury Francis Costa
Energetic and Nuclear Technology, Brazil
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Microbiol Saf Hyg
Introduction: The cereal or bran mix is a flour composed of a mixture of ingredients, including flax, sesame, and oats. The
filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus can contaminate this type of food and produce aflatoxin. The objective of this study
was to analyze samples of cereal mix, irradiated or not, to verify if the gamma radiation can inhibit the contamination by
aflatoxigenic fungi, besides maintaining the nutritional characteristics of the food.
Methods: 9 different samples of cereal mix (M1 to M9) were analyzed in plastic or metalized packaging, commercialized in two
ways: bulk and industrialized. Mycological analyzes (total and aflatoxigenic fungi), physical-chemical tests (ashes, moisture,
proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, water activity) and labeling analysis were performed.
Results and Discussion: The lowest dose of gamma radiation (2.5kGy) was sufficient to inhibit aflatoxigenic fungi in most
samples, but the optimal dose was 5kGy. The bulk sample M3 had the highest fungal contamination (1.2x104 UFC/g), but the
M8 had a greater variety of fungi. Since 75% of bulk cereal mix samples were positive for aflatoxigenic fungi. Sample M2 was the
most irregular in the labeling, in violation of RDC nº360/2003 and RDC nº259/2002. Statistical tests showed both nutritional
composition and grain germination were not affected by radiation. The MALDI-TOF method confirmed the Aspergillus flavus.
Conclusion: It is necessary to standardize the list of ingredients of the cereal mix, to regulate labeling with the companies, and
to guide consumers to buy cereal mix only in sealed packaging since the bulk sale facilitates the contamination by aflatoxigenic
fungi due to the manipulation and poor conservation.
Laury francis costa completed her Bachelor in Biomedicine (UFPE, 2005), specialization in Microbiology (FAFIRE, 2007), specialization in Sanitary Surveillance (2015), Master in Nuclear and Energy Technologies (UFPE, 2011) and PhD in Nuclear and Energy Technologies (UFPE, 2016). She have experience in the area of Clinical Analysis and Food Irradiation. She worked as a teacher in the Clinical Analysis Technical Course (ETEASD), in the disciplines microbiology, parasitology, urinalysis, biosafety and supervisor of the internship. She was coordinator of distance technical course in Renewable Energy Systems-SER, e-Tec Brasil network (IFPE). She is currently an Analyst at the Central Laboratory (LACEN) of the State Department of Health and professor in Biomedicine graduation course at the University Center Mauricio de Nassau-UNINASSAU, in the disciplines Urinalysis and Clinical Biochemistry.
E-mail: lauryfrancis@gmail.com