The Impact of Absorbent Packaging Characteristics on Mycotoxin Accumulation in Stored Rice

Subject Areas : Pesticides and agricultural pests

Ehsan Karamrezaee ^{1 *} , Fatemeh Karamrezaee ²

1 - Department of Food Science and Engineering, Payam-e Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Nasibeh Campus, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-08-23 Accepted : 2025-09-25 Published : 2025-09-22

Keywords: Mycotoxin accumulation, Absorbent packaging, Stored rice, Fungal growth, Humidity control,

Abstract :

Mycotoxin contamination in stored rice resulting from the growth of toxigenic fungi under suboptimal storage conditions, particularly elevated temperature and humidity poses a serious threat to food safety and economic sustainability in rice-dependent regions and can lead to post-harvest losses of 5% to 15%. This study investigated the role of moisture-absorbing packaging characteristics in mitigating mycotoxin accumulation. A total of 120 samples of long-grain rice (Oryza sativa) were stored for six months under controlled conditions (25–35°C, 60–90% relative humidity) in four packaging types: silica gel–based, clay-based, nanoparticle-enhanced, and control (non-absorbent). Mycotoxin levels were quantified biweekly using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and fungal growth was assessed via colony-forming unit (CFU) counts. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and regression modeling in R software.  Results demonstrated that nanoparticle-enhanced and silica gel–based packaging reduced mycotoxin levels by approximately 62%. Specifically, mean aflatoxin and fumonisin concentrations reached 1.8 µg/kg and 3.5 µg/kg, respectively, compared to 12.4 µg/kg and 9.8 µg/kg in the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a strong and statistically significant positive correlation was observed between moisture and mycotoxin accumulation in non-absorbent packaging (r = 0.89, p < 0.01).   These findings indicate that advanced absorbent packaging systems effectively enhance food safety by suppressing fungal proliferation and offer practical solutions for reducing both health hazards and economic losses. Nevertheless, further research remains essential to identify more cost-effective options for large-scale implementation.

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