The combined effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) involving gas packaging, oxygen absorbent and other environmental factors to control aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in both synthetic media and peanuts were studied using a process optimization technique termed Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Regression analysis of the data indicated that water activity (a$ sb{ rm w}$), pH, storage temperature, initial concentration of headspace oxygen and inoculum level were all highly significant factors (p 0%). These changes in the barrier characteristics influenced the headspace gas composition within the product and under modified atmospheres hence the level of aflatoxin detected in these stored products. / In conclusion, this study has shown that the combined effect of several "barriers" can be used in conjunction with low oxygen modified atmosphere and high barrier packaging films to inhibit or reduce aflatoxin to safe and acceptable levels, particularly at abusive temperatures encountered during storage.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.41118 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Ellis, William Otoo |
| Contributors | Smith, J. P. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001338390, proquestno: NN87863, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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