Efficacy of Microwave-Heating during Alkaline Processing of Fumonisin-Contaminated Maize.
Fumonisins (a family of foodborne carcinogenic mycotoxins) cause health hazards to humans and animals in developing countries, and has also economic implications. Therefore, the efficacy of a novel environmental friendly nixtamalization procedure to make tortillas (the main staple food for the Mexic...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2014-02-01
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| Series: | Iranian Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4241 |
| Summary: | Fumonisins (a family of foodborne carcinogenic mycotoxins) cause health hazards to humans and animals in developing countries, and has also economic implications. Therefore, the efficacy of a novel environmental friendly nixtamalization procedure to make tortillas (the main staple food for the Mexican population) was investigated.Maize contaminated with 2136.67 ng/g total fumonisins was processed into tortillas, starting with maize grits mixed with water and calcium hydroxide that was cooked in a microwave field at 2.45 GHz during 3.75 min, and steeped 3.5 h at room temperature. The steeped maize grits (nixtamal) was stone-ground into masa (maize dough), which was then used to make tortillas. Total fumonisin content was determined using monoclonal antibody columns.Masa contained 1998.33 ng/g total fumonisins, which represents 6.5% toxin reduction. Nevertheless, fumonisin concentration was reduced significantly in tortillas (up to 985.33 ng/g) due to the cooking process, corresponding to a cumulative toxin degradation of 54%. Tortillas were below the maximum tolerated level, considering the European Union regulatory limit for fumonisins in maize (1000 ng/g). The physicochemical and technological properties of tortillas were also considered within the acceptable margins of quality.Microwave nixtamalization was not a feasible method to reduce fumonisin content in masa to acceptable levels; however, an effective extra-reduction occurred when masa was baking into tortillas. |
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| ISSN: | 2251-6085 2251-6093 |