Determination of toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins in nuts and dried fruits using imaging and spectroscopic techniques. (30th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Qifang; Xie, Lijuan; Xu, Huirong
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 252(2018)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 242
• Publication Date: 2018-06-30
• Subjects: Toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins -- Imaging and spectroscopic techniques -- Rapid determination -- Nuts and dried fruits; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.01.076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: An overview of background introduction of aflatoxins is presented in this work. The recent progress of imaging and spectroscopic approaches is summarized. These methods are efficient for evaluating the contaminated samples. Challenges remain in terms of model robustness and detection limit. Abstract: Nuts and dried fruits contain rich nutrients and are thus highly vulnerable to contamination with toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins because of poor weather, processing and storage conditions. Imaging and spectroscopic techniques have proven to be potential alternative tools to wet chemistry methods for efficient and non-destructive determination of contamination with fungi and toxins. Thus, this review provides an overview of the current developments and applications in frequently used food safety testing techniques, including near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS), conventional imaging techniques (colour imaging (CI) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI)), and fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging (FS/FI). Interesting classification and determination results can be found in both static and on/in-line real-time detection for contaminated nuts and dried fruits. Although these techniques offer many benefits over conventional methods, challenges remain in terms of heterogeneous distribution of toxins, background constituent interference, model robustness, detection limits, sorting efficiency, as well as instrument development.