Patulin, an important mycotoxin produced by Penicillium species, is a water-soluble chemical that occurs most often in spoiled apples or products made from intact apples, such as apple juice, pies, and preserves. Patulin is toxic to many biological systems, including bacteria, mammalian cell cultures, higher plants, and animals, but its role in causing animal and human diseases is unclear.
Patulin has a lactone structure and has been shown to be carcinogenic when injected into mice. Patulin is considered a public health risk due to its potential carcinogenic properties and its presence in commercial apple juice and other apple products. Patulin appears to be unstable in cereals, cured meats and cheese.
In short, patulin is found in rotten apples and their products. Blue mold on apples is caused by a mycotoxin produced by a number of different fungi, including penicillium. The presence of blue mold is generally an indication of the presence of patulin in the fruit. The fungus infects fruit that has been injured or damaged by, for example, insects, rot or hail. In open bowl apple varieties, it enters the seed during early fruit development and grows slowly in fruit tissues. This does not cause the fruit to rot, but continues to produce patulin as it grows. Therefore, the presence of patulin is considered undesirable in terms of food quality and food safety. Blue mold is an important food safety problem in apple and apple products, in addition to affecting visual appearance, quality and marketability.
Some of the collected apples are processed for juice, cider, puree and other products. If contaminated apples are used to make juice, patulin can be carried into the final product. Pasteurization usually kills the fungus, but does not remove the patulin, if present.
Currently, there is no established maximum level for patulin; however, its level should be kept as low as possible. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and suitable for human consumption.
Penicillium is common in the orchard and packaging area. Many of the approaches used to control orchard, in-harvest and post-harvest storage diseases help control direct infection of apples.
Our organization also provides patulin determination services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.
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