Description

Abstract: The potential for using Flavobacterium aurantiacum NRRL B-184 to remove aflatoxin B1 from peanut milk was evaluated. Preliminary experiments determined that this bacterium grew in both nondefatted peanut milk (NDPM) and partially defatted peanut milk (PDPM). In neither case was the growth inhibited by the presence of aflatoxin B1. Other experiments were designed to assess the ability of 10 millions resting (stationary) cells of F. aurantiacum to remove aflatoxin B1 from phosphate buffer (PB), NDPM, and PDPM. After 24 h at 30 deg C, F. aurantiacum decreased aflatoxin B1 by 40 per cent in PB, 23 per cent in NDPM, and 70 per cent in PDPM. Proteolysis of PDPM before inoculation with F. aurantiacum increased recovery of toxin by about 30 per cent over nonproteolyzed samples. This increase in recovery was not observed when NDPM samples were proteolyzed, suggesting that some of the toxin may be bound to the groundnut protein and not be available for removal by F. aurantiacum.