Abstract
The result from 1994 to 2000 of the inspection for aflatoxin in raw peanuts at the time of import into Japan are discribed. From 1994 to March 11, 1999, the aflatoxin inspection of peanuts required that puliverze grain of 50 g taken from 1 kg of raw peanuts and tested. After March 12, 1999, the Food Hygiene Law modified the aflatoxin inspection, and required that 1 kg of peanuts be pulverized, and then that 50 g taken from this amount be tested. For the period from 1994 to 1998, aflatoxin was detected in 69 (0.9 %) of 8040 samples large and small kernel type of peanuts, and of these 69 samples, 29 (0.4 %) had more than 10 ppb of aflatoxin B1. The aflatoxin B1 contamination ranged from 0.2 ppb to 4900 ppb. For the piriod from 1999 to 2000, aflatoxin was detected in 355 (6.9 %) of 5108 samples of large and small kernel type of peanuts, and of these 355 samples, 145 (2.8 %) had more than 10 ppb of aflatoxin B1. The contamination range from 0.2 ppb to 760 ppb. This increased incidence of aflatoxin detection after is due to the modify of the aflatoxin inspection, which enhanced the inspection at the time of the importation raw peanuts.
