Drying in Brazil Nut Processing as Tool for Prevention of Contamination by Aflatoxins

Abstract

Drying is fundamental in the processing of Brazil nuts to prevent contamination by aflatoxins which are produced by fungi, as well as to extend the shelf life of the product. The binomial time/temperature is applied to guarantee the efficiency of drying stages. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters of moisture content (mc) and water activity (Aw) in processed and unprocessed nuts obtained from a processing plant in the Amazonas state, Brazil, during the harvests of 2019 and 2020. Differences were observed regarding Aw between the harvests, and in processed and unprocessed samples. However, for mc, no differences between years or interaction between factors were observed. Processed samples from 2019 and 2020 showed a significant reduction in moisture content when compared to unprocessed samples and this may be because some modernization occurred in the drying process and raw material was stored under better conditions. We therefore conclude that the time/temperature binomial has a direct impact on product safety and should be applied from the moment of collection of raw material until the industrial process begins to guarantee economic maintenance of the production chain.