Aflatoxins in hazelnuts and dried figs: Occurrence and exposure assessment

Abstract

A total of 300 samples of hazelnuts and dried fig were analysed for the incidence of any aflatoxins (AFs). High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method was used to quantify the amounts of AFs. The limit of quantification varied from 0.21 to 0.30 μg kg−1. No AFs were detected in shells of the hazelnuts, while six raw hazelnut kernel samples (12%) and five roasted hazelnut kernel samples (8.3%) contained AFs ranging from 0.09 to 11.3 μg kg−1 and from 0.17 to 11.2 μg kg−1, respectively. Sixteen dried fig samples (12.3%) contained AFs ranging from 0.1 to 28.2 μg kg−1 and a mean value of 3.8 μg kg−1. Three hazelnuts and six dried fig samples exceeded the European maximum limits (MLs) of 5 and 2 μg kg−1 for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), respectively. The contribution of hazelnuts to AFs exposure is higher than that of dried figs.