Mycoflora And Mycotoxins Of Corned Beef

Abstract

Sixty species and 5 varieties belonging to 21 genera of fungi were collected from 20 corned beef samples . The average total counts of fungi ranged from 56 -236,47-275 and 39-202 colonies /g on glucose - 10% NAC1 - glucose - and 15% NAC1 - glucose - Czapek's agar media , respectively . Aspergillus niger, A. flavus , and Pencillium chrysogenum were the most common species on the three tested media . A. fumigatus and A. sydowii were common on glucose -Czapek's medium only while A. speluneus and Eurotium cheveliere were common on the media fortified by NAC1. Ochratoxine A was detected in 15% of the samples at concentrations ranged between 58 and 195 mg/kg . zea-ralenol (330 & 425 mg/kg ) was recorded in two samples only of all the tested samples . All the fifteen -mycotoxine free-corned beef samples tested proved to be susceptible to aflatoxine accumulation when inocubated at 28 C for 10 days . However, only 10 samples proved to be contaminated by aflatoxine when the infected samples refrigrated at 10 C for 30 days .