Question 1
What mold produces aflatoxin, a common contaminant in peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, brazil nuts, and corn products?
- Aspergillus
- Mucor
- Penicillium
- Cladosporium
Explanation: Aspergillus flavus is a mold species commonly found in peanut butter and many other foods. It produces aflatoxin, a toxin linked to increased risk of liver cell cancer. The other mold species listed are not considered to be related to liver cancer. Cladosporium species are rarely harmful to humans. Penicillium species produce antibiotics, which we commonly use to treat infections. Mucor species cannot grow in warm temperatures, and are unable to infect humans, with the exception of certain heat-tolerant strains, which may cause some zygomycosis.