Natural occurrence of aflatoxins in dry fruits and edible nuts. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masood, Muhammad; Iqbal, Shahzad Zafar; Asi, Muhammad Rafique; Malik, Noeen
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 55(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Aflatoxins -- Dry fruits -- Edible nuts -- HPLC; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.02.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: A total 307 samples of dry fruits and edible nuts from Northern areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were evaluated for the presence of aflatoxins (AFs). The samples were analysed using a reversed phase HPLC, equipped with fluorescence detector. Results have revealed that 132 out of 307 samples of dry fruits and nuts were found positive with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) and total AFs. The highest mean level of total AFs i.e. 7.89 ± 0.99 μg/kg was found in peanuts without shell and lowest mean level (2.45 ± 0.11 μg/kg) was found in watermelon seeds without shell samples. Samples 75 (24%) were found contaminated with AFB1, ranged from 8 to 10 μg/kg and 41 (13%) samples were found above the level of 10 μg/kg for total AFs. The high occurrence of AFs may cause health hazards for consumers and limit exports. Highlights: The study was focused to investigate the occurrence and levels of AFs in dry fruits and nuts. Samples 132/307 were found positive with aflatoxins contamination. Total 24 and 13% samples were found above the permissible limits for AFB1 and total AFs, respectively. The contamination of aflatoxins in dry fruits and nuts may pose health hazards.