What is a common defect found in peanuts?

A common defect found in peanuts is blanching or damage from mold. This defect is significant because it can directly affect the quality and safety of the peanuts. Blanching refers to a specific type of damage where peanuts become discolored or lose their desirable appearance due to the action of fungi or other molds. This not only makes the product less appealing to consumers but can also indicate spoilage or reduced flavor.

Understanding this defect is crucial for inspectors, as moldy peanuts can lead to aflatoxin contamination, a serious health risk. Proper identification of such defects allows for appropriate actions to be taken, such as removing affected peanuts, ensuring the remaining product is safe for consumption, and maintaining quality standards.

Other factors, such as excess salt content, wrinkling due to over-drying, and darkening of color due to old age, while they can also impact peanut quality, are secondary concerns compared to the immediate health risks posed by mold damage. Therefore, understanding the impact of blanching and mold damage is key in the context of peanut inspection and certification.