Avoid Mycotoxins Induced in Seed and, Grain and Dried Products Using Dry Chain

Product Type: Seed, dried products
Stage:  Handling & Storage

Problem: 

High humidity creates two main problems for seed, cereal, and dried products
1) Mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin) produced by fungi can accumulate in food stored at high moisture contents. Aflatoxin induced in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, tree nuts, dairy products that are moisture and induce several critical food-borne illnesses such as liver lesions, liver cancer, growth impairment.
2) In tropical climates, high humidity causes rapid seed deterioration, resulting in low market value. For every 1 percent increase in seed moisture content, seed longevity is reduced by half. Sunshine drying and traditional methods cannot reduce seed moisture sufficiently to maintain seed quality.

Solution: Dry chain

Drying at harvest and packaging during storage would dramatically reduce postharvest losses and improve food safety.

1.      Critical seed moisture contents (or RH)

If commodities are stored in the atmosphere that is below the critical RH, fungi and insects are unable to grow.

2.      A tool to measure moisture content: eRH

The chart of critical RH value shows that the moisture of 35% is the highest moisture content could be allowed.

3. Dry Chain for Seed and Food Preservation

 

4. Below are seed and grain drying methods

1) Desiccant-based Seed Drying: Drying Beads

․        Enclosing beads with commodities to transfer water to the beads.

․        Beads can be heated to reactivate for reuse indefinitely.

For more details, check how seed-drying beads can absorb moisture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar7bo4tA87c 
2) Hermetic Containers and Packaging