Aflatoxins in Dried Figs in Turkey: A Comparative Survey on the Exported and Locally Consumed Dried Figs for Assessment of Exposure

Dried figs collected from various exporting companies (۲,۴۶۱ samples) and local stores (۲۱۹ samples) were analyzed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to determine and compare the incidence of aflatoxins, the effectiveness of the regulation limits and monitoring system to select non-compliant samples and the mean daily aflatoxin exposures. The incidence rates of aflatoxin contamination were higher in the domestic samples (۴۷.۵%) than in the samples intended for export (۲۳.۶%). According to the European regulation limits (۲ ng g-۱ for aflatoxin B۱ and ۴ ng g-۱ for total aflatoxin; sum of B۱+B۲+G۱+G۲), non-compliant samples were ۶ and ۲۴.۲% of the dried figs for export and domestic market, respectively. The respective rates of ۲.۲ and ۱۶.۴% were obtained with the national limit. The dietary intakes of aflatoxins through the consumption of dried figs were calculated as ۱.۲۷ and ۰.۲ ng kg-۱ body weight×day for domestic market and export, respectively. Dried figs contaminated with high levels of aflatoxins can lead to acute and chronic human toxicities. Reducing contamination and exposure to an acceptable level by the implementation of strict periodic monitoring and application of effective new prevention measures might also help to decrease the significant health and economic risks in exported and domestic commodities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bio-yield point ، Castor seed ، Modulus of elasticity ، Rupture force and energy ، Toughness