Free and encapsulated 2(3)-tert-butyl-4 hydroxyanisole (BHA) application to protect outdoor stored peanut destined for the food industry from fungi and aflatoxins contamination

Abstract

In this work, the effect of free and microencapsulated 2(3)-tert-butyl-4 hydroxyanisole (BHA) on peanuts (Arachis hipogaea L.) intended for industry stored in Australian type cells was evaluated. Two hundred kilograms of peanut were used for each silo and stored outdoor during 70 days. Three treatments were applied in duplicate: 10 mM of free BHA (T1); the mix (5:5 Mm) of free and microencapsulated (BHA and F-BHA) (T2); 5 mM of free BHA on the floor of the experimental unit and 5 mM of F-BHA homogenized with the peanut (T3). And finally, two units without any treatment were use as controls. Fungal populations, total aflatoxins (AFs), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation, BHA residues, peanut damages (insect damage and visible fungal development) and environmental factors variations were evaluated. Significant (p<0.05) fungitoxic effects were observed in all treatments, with reductions in the order of 40% compared to the control, after 26 days. After this time, the effect decreased being fungal count similar between treatments and control. No AFs were detected during the two first samplings. However, at the end of the trial, AFs levels increased, being in the order of 60% higher in peanuts from T2 and T3 than in the control. Besides, residual levels of the antioxidant were detected throughout the experiment with the highest levels at 26 days (200-900 ng/g). These results show that the treatment of peanut destined for industry with free BHA could be used as part of alternative strategy for control of fungal contamination during 30 days when the raw material may be stored under direct environmental influence.