MITIGATION OF AFLATOXIN IN BUSH MANGO SEEDS (IRVINGIA SPP.) USING SPICES AND PACKAGING MATERIALS

Abstract

Bush mango seeds (Irvingia spp.), a staple soup thickener in Nigeria, are prone to aflatoxin contamination from fungal growth during processing and storage. This study quantified aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) in bush mango seeds (BMS) from vendors and processors in Oyo and Osun States, Southwest Nigeria, across fresh, dried, and stored stages using HPLC. We evaluated moisture content and tested the efficacy of 10% and 15% w/w turmeric or basil combined with plastic or sack packaging over 5 weeks. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and MANOVA. Total aflatoxins in dried, stored, and vendor BMS ranged from 4.00 to 72.00 µg/kg, with 96% exceeding Nigeria's adopted EU limit of 4 µg/kg. Treatments significantly reduced aflatoxin levels (p < 0.05). The combination of 15% turmeric in plastic packaging (P15%T) was most effective, achieving up to an 84.8% reduction in total aflatoxins (e.g., from 33 to 5 µg/kg in vendor 4 BMS after 5 weeks). These natural spices and proper packaging offer a practical, low-cost aflatoxin control strategy for handlers, enhancing BMS safety.