Peanuts Infected By Toxic Mould

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 18

Peanuts Infected By Toxic Mould

Peanuts bought in Hamilton for human consumption were so heavily infected with a mould, Aspergillus flavus, that ducklings fed with an extract from about an ounce of nuts quickly died.

This is stated by Dr. R. Hodges and Messrs P. H. Mortimer and J. D. Smith, all of the Ruakura Animal Research Station of the Department of Agriculture, in a letter to the ‘‘New Zealand Medical Journal.” Some cultures of Aspergillus flavus have been shown to produce Aflatoxin, a liver toxin with marked Carcinogenic (cancer-producing) effects. The mould, growing on peanuts, has been shown responsible for severe losses ?f pigs, calves, and poultry in Britain and other countries. According to the published letter, the results of the tests at Ruakura indicated that the concentration of Aflotoxin in the nuts bought in Hamilton was as high as, and probably higher than, in the batches which caused the trouble in Britain. No Tests Made "As far as we know; no tests are made on groundnuts (peanuts) imported into this country for possible Aspergillus infestation, and we wanted to draw attention to the position,” Dr. Hodges told a reporter of “The Press” by telephone yesterday. Asked what authorities had been advised of the results of his group’s investigations, Dr. Hodges said the Health Department had been kept informed. He had heard of no action being taken either by that department or his own. The group’s suspicions had been aroused by a fellow staff member, who did not like the look of some nuts he had bought to eat from a local grocery shop. When, on investigation, these were found to be' heavily infected with Aspergillus flavus, more nuts were bought at various retail stores and found to be infected also in varying degrees. The nuts proved all to have come through an auction room, in Hamilton. The auctioneers did not definitely know the source of the nuts, they said, but thought they came from the Pacific islands. Asked if he knew which islands, Dr. Hodges said he had “a fair idea” but, as he was not

certain, it would be improper to express an opinion. The original nuts were bought in August, 1963, in husk, the letter says. Twenty-five to 30 per cent of the kernels showed discoloration and there was damage typical of infestation by mites. On incubation, Aspergillus appeared on about 7 per cent of the total sample. Ducklings Died Two extracts were made from the nuts—one from those which were discoloured, the other from unsorted nuts. Three ducklings fed an extract of 18gm (about two-thirds of an ounce) of nuts a day all died by the end of the second day; three others fed about the same daily quantity of the extract of unsorted nuts were all dead by the end of the third day. Ducklings fed smaller amounts showed serious liver damage. “A sample of ground-nuts in husk purchased in November showed 2 per cent of the kernels infected with Aspergillus flavus although very few discoloured kernels were seen. The mould was also cultured from a sample of apparently undamaged shelled nuts of another variety bought in a local grocery store. “Although these samples have not been examined for toxicity, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a much closer inspection of all ground-nut shipments—shelled or otherwise—must be undertaken.” “It has been shown,” the letter says, "that toxic ground-nut meal, when fed to rats over a period of time, produced in them malignant hepatomas with secondary tumours in the lungs. “In view of the paucity of knowledge of the effect of Aflotoxin on the human liver it is difficult to assess the hazard to man. Animal studies indicate, however, that it is a potent liverdamaging agent and an active carcinogen when fed over a period of time.” A spokesman for the Minister of Health, asked if any action was being taken, said inquiries had been started.