Aflatoxins in cottonseed hulls

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that aflatoxins were found in laboratory-prepared hulls from cottonseed which contained aflatoxins. However, no aflatoxins were found in hulls commercially processed from cottonseed containing aflatoxins, crops of 1964 and 1965, which were analyzed in our laboratory. Some lots of hulls prepared from contaminated cottonseed in our laboratory, simulating commercial conditions, were found to contain small but measurable quantities of aflatoxins. In normal oil mill operation the linters content of the seed is reduced 80% to 90% before dehulling. In the laboratory operation, small quantities of fine meats containing aflatoxins may have been trapped in linters on the hulls, resulting in a positive test for aflatoxins. It may be concluded that commercial hulls processed from cottonseed with moderate aflatoxin contamination will contain little or no aflatoxins.