title: Distribution of aflatoxin in pistachios. 7. Sequential sampling.
abstract: Sequential sampling for aflatoxin testing in pistachios is evaluated using the aflatoxin distribution and Monte Carlo results previously obtained (J. Agric. Food Chem. 1999, 47, 3771-3775). The sequential protocol is modeled on the current EU test protocol by applying a three-step sampling, using 10, 20, and 30 kg sample averages. An acceptance level of 15 ng/g of total aflatoxin, under consideration for U.S. standards, is applied. Optimization leads to indifference regions of 2-30 ng/g for the first two steps. The resulting OC curve approximates that for a single 50 kg sample. The sequential protocol is applied to the results for a set of 1293 lots of the 1998 crop year, each tested with a single 10 kg sample. Ninety-five percent of the lots would have been accepted on the basis of the single test and 1.5% would have been rejected, whereas 3.5% of the lots would have required retesting.
authors.affiliation: Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710, USA.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Schatzki
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins