For any buyer sourcing peanuts — whether for food manufacturing, snack production, or ingredient distribution — aflatoxin contamination is the single most critical quality issue to understand and control. This guide explains what aflatoxin is, why it matters, and how SK Enterprise manages it to well below international limits.

What Is Aflatoxin?

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus moulds. They are among the most potent naturally occurring carcinogens known to science. Four main types are relevant to peanuts: B1, B2, G1, and G2 — the total of which (B1+B2+G1+G2) is what international standards regulate.

International Limits

Different importing regions set different maximum limits:

  1. European Union: Total aflatoxins ≤ 4 ppb for nuts intended for direct consumption; ≤ 10 ppb for further processing
  2. USA (FDA): ≤ 20 ppb total aflatoxins
  3. China: ≤ 20 ppb
  4. Japan: ≤ 10 ppb
  5. India (FSSAI): ≤ 10 ppb total, ≤ 2 ppb for B1

The EU limit of 4 ppb is the most stringent globally, and we benchmark all our production to meet EU standards as a matter of policy.

How We Control Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin control must happen at every stage of the supply chain:

  1. Field level: We work with farmers who harvest at the correct moisture level (below 10% field moisture) and dry promptly on clean surfaces
  2. Procurement: All incoming lots are tested before purchase using ELISA rapid test kits; lots above 5 ppb are rejected
  3. Storage: Peanuts are stored in ventilated, climate-controlled warehouses with humidity below 65% and temperature below 25°C
  4. Processing: Optical sorting machines remove discoloured kernels which are statistically more likely to carry aflatoxin
  5. Final testing: Every export lot is tested by a NABL-accredited laboratory using HPLC methodology, the gold standard for aflatoxin quantification

Documentation We Provide

With every export shipment, SK Enterprise provides:

  1. Certificate of Analysis (COA) from NABL-accredited lab
  2. Phytosanitary Certificate issued by APEDA/NPPO India
  3. FSSAI compliance certificate
  4. Full moisture, physical inspection, and aflatoxin HPLC report

Questions about our quality control process? Get in touch with our technical team.