Antimicrobial Effects of Sodium Benzoate on the Growth, Survival and Aflatoxin Production Potential of Some Species of Aspergillus in Garri During Storage

I.S. Ogiehor and M.J. Ikenebomeh

The antimicrobial effect of different concentrations (0.6, 0.4 and 0.2%) of sodium benzoate (SB) on the growth, survival and aflatoxin production potentials of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus in packaged garri (2kg/pack) during storage at ambient temperature (30±2^oC) was investigated. A decrease of 4.5, 2.5, 1.9; 4.5, 2.4, 1.8 and 4.6, 2.6 and 2.0 folds were recorded in the viable count of A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus, for 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2% SB treated samples respectively. The effectiveness of SB against the various species of Aspergillius was in the order 0.6% > 0.4% > 0.2%. However 1.2 and 1.7 folds increase in the viable count of A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus were recorded in the non treated samples (controls). No aflatoxin was detected in all the samples treated with different concentration of SB. However, aflatoxin was detected in the samples inoculated with Aspergillus flavus although unspecified and irregular florescence was noticed in other samples (controls).