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Aflatoxinas - All Information

Definición:

Son toxinas producidas por un moho que crece en las nueces, en semillas y en las legumbres.

Funciones:

Aunque se sabe que las aflatoxinas causan cáncer en los animales, la Administración de Drogas y Alimentos (Food and Drug Administration, FDA) de los Estados Unidos la permite en bajos niveles en nueces, semillas y legumbres, ya que se consideran "contaminantes inevitables."

La FDA considera que el consumo ocasional de pequeñas cantidades de aflatoxinas ofrece poco riesgo durante la vida y no es práctico intentar quitar la aflatoxina de los productos alimenticios con el fin de hacerlos más seguros.

Fuentes alimenticias:

El moho que produce aflotoxinas se puede encontrar en los siguientes alimentos:

  • Maní y mantequilla de maní
  • Nueces como las pacanas
  • Maíz
  • Trigo
  • Semillas oleaginosas como las de algodón

Recomendaciones:

Para ayudar a minimizar el riesgo, la FDA examina los alimentos que pueden contener aflatoxinas. Los cacahuetes y la mantequilla de maní son algunos de los productos más rigurosamente examinados por la FDA, debido a que con frecuencia contienen aflatoxinas y se consumen ampliamente.

Se puede reducir el consumo de aflatoxinas:

  • Comprando sólo marcas conocidas de nueces y mantequillas de maní
  • Desechando las nueces que luzcan mohosas, decoloradas o resecas
  • Reviewed last on: 2/2/2011
  • Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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