pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/i0095-3679-6-1-2 Articles Evaluation of the Peanut Administrative Committee Testing Program for Aflatoxin in Shelled Peanuts1 T. B. Whitaker and J. W. Dickens 2 Agricultural Engineer and Research Leader, USDA, SEA, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N. C. 27650

1Paper Number 5508 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, N. C. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service or the U. S. Department of Agriculture of the product named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.

 1 1979 6 1 7 9 29 12 1978 American Peanut Research and Education Society 1979 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

Under provisions of a USDA Marketing Agreement, an aflatoxin control program for peanuts produced in the United States is administered by the Peanut Administrative Committee (PAC) composed of peanut growers and shellers. The PAC requires aflatoxin tests on all commercial lots of shelled peanuts.

The present PAC testing program initiated in 1975 was evaluated for Crop A which averaged 9.5 parts-per-billion (ppb) aflatoxin and for Crop B which averaged 5.2 ppb aflatoxin. For Crop A and Crop B, respectively, 7.3% and 2.0% of the lots were rejected. The accepted lots contained an average of 7.5 ppb for Crop A and 4.7 ppb for Crop B. A correct decision (accept a lot with le; 25 ppb aflatoxin and reject a lot with > 25 ppb aflatoxin) was made 95% of the time for Crop A and 98% of the time for Crop B.

 Key Words Aflatoxin; , Peanuts; , Sampling; , Evaluation