Aflatoxin B1 in sesame seeds and sesame products from the Greek market

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is considered as the most potent liver carcinogen for humans. A method for determination in sesame seeds was developed. AFB₁ was extracted by methanol-water, cleaned by immunoaffinity columns and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The recovery factor and the limit of detection (LOD) of AFB₁ in sesame seeds were 111.5% and 0.02 ng g^?1, respectively. Thirty samples of sesame products were examined for the presence of AFB₁. After analysis, 77.6% of samples were found to be contaminated. Eight samples exceeded the European Union (EU) limit (2 µg AFB₁ kg^?1). In 15 samples, AFB₁ was below the EU limit. Seven samples remained below the LOD. The most contaminated (14.49 ng AFB₁ g^?1) sample was unpeeled packaged sesame seeds. In all samples, aflatoxigenic Aspergilli fungi as well as the risk for AFB₁ presence in sesame seed was investigated.