Fungal contamination in green coffee beans samples: A public health concern. 2017

Carla Viegas, and Cátia Pacífico, and Tiago Faria, and Ana Cebola de Oliveira, and Liliana Aranha Caetano, and Elisabete Carolino, and Anita Quintal Gomes, and Susana Viegas
a Environment and Health Research Group (GIAS) Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, ESTeSL , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal.

Studies on the microbiology of coffee cherries and beans have shown that the predominant toxigenic fungal genera (Aspergillus and Penicillium) are natural coffee contaminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of fungi in Coffea arabica L. (Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora L. var. robusta (Robusta coffee) green coffee samples obtained from different sources at the pre-roasting stage. Twenty-eight green coffee samples from different countries of origin (Brazil, Timor, Honduras, Angola, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, India, and Uganda) were evaluated. The fungal load in the contaminated samples ranged from 0 to 12330 colony forming units (CFU)/g, of which approximately 67% presented contamination levels below 1500 CFU/g, while 11% exhibited intermediate contamination levels between 1500 and 3000 CFU/g. Contamination levels higher than 3000 CFU/g were found in 22% of contaminated coffee samples. Fifteen different fungi were isolated by culture-based methods and Aspergillus species belonging to different sections (complexes). The predominant Aspergillus section detected was Nigri (39%), followed by Aspergillus section Circumdati (29%). Molecular analysis detected the presence of Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Circumdati. The% coffee samples where Aspergillus species were identified by culture-based methods were 96%. Data demonstrated that green coffee beans samples were contaminated with toxigenic fungal species. Since mycotoxins may be resistant to the roasting process, this suggests possible exposure to mycotoxins through consumption of coffee. Further studies need to be conducted to provide information on critical points of coffee processing, such that fungal contamination may be reduced or eliminated and thus exposure to fungi and mycotoxins through coffee handling and consumption be prevented.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010407 Penicillium A mitosporic Trichocomaceae fungal genus that develops fruiting organs resembling a broom. When identified, teleomorphs include EUPENICILLIUM and TALAROMYCES. Several species (but especially PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM) are sources of the antibiotic penicillin. Penicilliums
D003069 Coffee A beverage made from ground COFFEA beans (SEEDS) infused in hot water. It generally contains CAFFEINE and THEOPHYLLINE unless it is decaffeinated.
D005516 Food Microbiology The presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in food and food products. This term is not restricted to pathogenic organisms: the presence of various non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi in cheeses and wines, for example, is included in this concept. Microbiology, Food
D001230 Aspergillus A genus of mitosporic fungi containing about 100 species and eleven different teleomorphs in the family Trichocomaceae.
D060888 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Methods used for detecting the amplified DNA products from the polymerase chain reaction as they accumulate instead of at the end of the reaction. Kinetic Polymerase Chain Reaction,Quantitative Real-Time PCR,Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction,Real-Time PCR,PCR, Quantitative Real-Time,PCR, Real-Time,PCRs, Quantitative Real-Time,PCRs, Real-Time,Quantitative Real Time PCR,Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction,Quantitative Real-Time PCRs,Real Time PCR,Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction,Real-Time PCR, Quantitative,Real-Time PCRs,Real-Time PCRs, Quantitative

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