The Incidence of Aflatoxin Found in Groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) Purchased From Markets in and Around Accra, Ghana¹

Eighty groundnut samples, representing both the Northern and Volta Region types, were purchased from markets in and around Accra. Extracts from each sample were assayed for the presence of aflatoxin. Of the samples examined, approximately half had aflatoxin levels exceeding that recommended as safe by FAO-WHO. The Volta Region conditions are much wetter at the time when the first season groundnuts are harvested. Damaged Volta Region drying conditions are much wetter at the time when the first season groundnuts are harvested. Damaged kernels had significantly higher levels of aflatoxin than whole and undamaged kernels. When damaged kernels were removed from the samples the remaining whole kernels were without exception below the tolerance level established by FAO-WHO.