Effect of different storage conditions on the stability and safety of almonds.

Almond production in Portugal is of great importance for the economy of their main producing areas. However, the contamination of these nut fruits with fungi and mycotoxins poses a significant risk to food safety and security. This work intended to evaluate the influence of storage conditions on the microbial and mycotoxin stability and safety of almonds throughout long-term storage. Two almond varieties-Lauranne and Guara-were submitted to three different storage conditions, namely, 4°C with noncontrolled relative humidity (RH), 60% RH at 25°C, and 70% RH at 25°C, for a storage period of 9 months. Samples were collected after 0, 3, 6, and 9 months of storage and analyzed for microbial loads (aerobic mesophiles, yeasts, and molds), mold incidence and diversity, and mycotoxin contamination. In total, 26 species were identified belonging to 6 genera: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Paecilomyces, and Talaromyces. For the variety Guara, mycotoxins related to Aspergillus sect. Flavi, such as aflatoxins, averufin, versicolorin C, and norsolorinic acid, were detected only after 9 months of storage at 70% and 60% RH. Penicillium mycotoxins, such as quinolactacin A and roquefortine C, were also detected. For the variety Lauranne, Penicillium mycotoxins were detected, such as citrinin, quinolactacins A and B, roquefortines C and D, cyclopenin, cyclopenol, penitrem A, viridicatin, and viridicatol. Mycotoxins related to Aspergillus, such as aspulvinone E, flavoglaucin, paspalin, asperglaucide, asperphenamate, cyclo(L-Pro-L-Tyr), and cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val), were also detected. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: (Optional, for JFS Research Articles ONLY) The quality of almonds depends on the storage period and the RH and temperature at which they are stored. Storage of almonds at 60% RH at 25°C is a good storage condition to maintain the stability and safety of nuts in terms of microbial and mycotoxin contaminations.