Effect of Processing on Detoxification of Aflatoxins in Maize

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxic metabolic substances produced by certain toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Asperillus parasiticus. The most potent of these toxins is aflatoxin. Contamination in maize assumes much significance from the health point of view as it is a staple food in many population groups. In India, human disease outbreaks attributable to consumption of aflatoxin contaminated maize have been described. Several physical ond chemical methods of detoxification of aflatoxin from food material have been studied by Samarajeewa et al.