Endogenous Mycoflora of Gable-top Carton Paperboard Used for Packaging Fruit Juice

Studies were undertaken to isolate and identify filamentous fungi from gable-top cartons used for fruit juice packaging. All containers studied were food-grade, gable-top cartons composed of paperboard with various laminants and coextruded layers. Paperboard fibers from surface sterilized pieces of blank (unfilled) cartons harbored 40 species of 14 genera and 6 Mycelia Sterilia isolates. A parallel study of juice-filled cartons revealed 10 filamentous species and 3 Mycelia Sterilia isolates from deteriorated areas of the paperboard cartons. Three of 9 juice-filled cartons contained mycelial mats of Penicillium biforme and Penicillium spinulosum within the juice. These two species were also isolated from the paperboard.