Chile issues alert over aflatoxin-contaminated roasted peanuts

Chile's Ministry of Health (Minsal) has issued a food safety alert for Cuisine & Co unsalted roasted peanuts (300g pot, lot 103969, produced March 31, 2026) after detecting aflatoxins, toxic compounds from Aspergillus fungi. The alert urges consumers not to eat the product and initiates its withdrawal from sale. Source: El Mercurio (Emol)

The contamination

The sampling was conducted by the Seremi de Salud of La Araucanía and analyzed by the Metropolitan Region laboratory, as part of the National Mycotoxin Surveillance Program. Aflatoxin B1, the most common type in peanuts, is a known carcinogen with prolonged exposure, particularly affecting the liver and gallbladder. Source: El Mercurio (Emol)

Expert perspective

Food engineer Natalia Vega (Universidad del Desarrollo) explains that aflatoxins are not visible to the naked eye and are difficult to eliminate. They persist even if the fungus is removed, due to temperature and humidity conditions. Vega notes that acute poisoning is rare, but chronic exposure poses risks: "If a person consumed it, they won't necessarily get sick... but I don't know how much mycotoxin I've consumed." Source: emolcl

What's next

Minsal is conducting the necessary actions, including removing the product from the market. Consumers who have the product at home are advised to avoid consumption. Source: El Mercurio (Emol)