Abstract:
The population and diversity of fungal species and levels of aflatoxin contamination were investigated in 228 marketed
peanut samples; 140 from formal and 88 from informal markets, in Kericho and Eldoret towns of Kenya. Ground pea nut samples were cultured on Modified Dichloran Rose Bengal (MDRB) agar while aflatoxin level was quantified
based on indirect competitive ELISA. Correlation between the incidence of major aflatoxin-producing fungal species
and aflatoxin levels was also established. Fungal species commonly isolated from the peanut samples included Asper gillus flavus L strain, A. flavus S strain, A. parasiticus, A. tamarii, A. caelatus, A. alliaceus (all of Aspergillus section
Flavi) and A. niger. Fungi isolated in low frequency included Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Mucor spp. and Rhi zopus spp. Aflatoxin levels in peanut products ranged from 0 to 2345 µg/kg in raw peanuts, 0 to 382 µg/kg in roasted
coated peanuts, and 0 to 201 µg/kg in roasted de-coated peanuts. Overall, levels of total aflatoxin were higher in sam ples from informal (mean = 97.1 µg/kg) than formal (mean = 55.5 µg/kg) market outlets. There was a positive and sig nificant correlation (R2
= 0.63; p ≤ 0.05) between aflatoxin levels and the major aflatoxin producing fungi in raw pea nuts from formal markets in Eldoret town. Additionally, total aflatoxin in raw peanut samples from informal markets in
Kericho was positively and significantly correlated (R2
= 0.81; p ≤ 0.05) to the population of A. flavus (L and S strains).
In roasted coated peanuts sampled from formal market outlets in Eldoret, aflatoxin levels correlated positively and sig nificantly (R2
= 0.37; p ≤ 0.05) with A. flavus S strain. There is need to create awareness among peanut traders and con sumers on proper handling of peanuts and health risks associated with consumption of unsafe peanut products
