Aflatoxin in chilli and in Indian peanuts is controlled by stopping mould growth, sorting out affected material and testing every lot with a proper sampling plan. Aflatoxins are toxins made by certain moulds. They are regulated tightly in the EU and other markets, and both chilli and peanuts are common subjects of border checks.
No supplier can promise zero aflatoxin. What you can require is a controlled process, a documented test for each lot, and a limit written into the contract.
Where aflatoxin comes from
The moulds grow when the crop is damaged, stressed or left damp. For chilli, risk points are drying on the ground, rain on drying pods and warm humid storage. For peanuts, risk starts in the field with drought stress and pod damage, and rises with slow drying and poor storage.
Because the mould grows in pockets, contamination is uneven. A few kernels or pods may carry most of the toxin while the rest of the lot is clean. That is why sampling is as important as the test.
What the limits are
Limits differ by market and product. In the EU they are set in Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, which sets separate maximum levels for aflatoxin B1 and for total aflatoxins, with different figures for spices such as chilli and for groundnuts depending on whether they will be sorted before eating. The text is amended from time to time, so confirm the current consolidated version for your product.
The UK, US and other markets have their own limits and checking regimes. Ask your regulator or customs broker for the limit that applies to your product and treat it as the contract limit. For more detail on chilli, see how aflatoxin is controlled in dry red chilli. For nuts, see how aflatoxin in Indian peanuts is tested and controlled.
Controls a buyer can require
- Dry to a set moisture before storage, with moisture recorded for each lot.
- Drying on clean, raised surfaces or in dryers, and protection from rain.
- For peanuts, mechanical and electronic or manual sorting to remove discoloured and shrivelled kernels.
- Clean, dry, ventilated storage that is free from pests and leaks.
- Lot-by-lot testing of a properly drawn composite sample at an accredited lab.
- Segregation and traceability, so that a failed lot can be traced and held back.
Why sampling decides the result
Because aflatoxin is clustered, a small sample may miss it. Official methods specify how many sub-samples to draw and how large the sample must be, and in the EU the sampling method is laid down in law. Ask the lab to follow an official sampling method, not a convenience sample.
Retain a sealed sample from each lot. If your market tests the goods on arrival and the result differs, a retained sample helps establish what happened. Our note on reading a lab certificate covers what to check on the report.
What happens if a lot fails
A failed result at the border can mean rejection, return or destruction at your cost, and the notification may count against the supplier and the exporting country. Ask your supplier to test before shipping, and agree in advance what happens to a lot that fails.
If your destination applies increased official controls to some products from India, your shipment can be held until results arrive. Check this with your customs broker before you book.
Next step
We draw samples from the lot, send them to an accredited lab and compare the result with your market's limit before the container is loaded. To set that up, book a free sourcing review.