Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in export quality raisins collected from different areas of Pakistan |
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| Authors: | Muhammad Asif Asghar Aftab Ahmed Javed Iqbal |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Food and Feed Safety Laboratory, Food and Marine Resources Research Centre, Karachi, Pakistan;2. Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Republic of Ireland |
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| Abstract: | During 2012–2014, 170 samples of export quality raisins were collected from different vendors in Pakistan. The collected samples were analysed for the presence of aflatoxins (AFs) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination using high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of AFs/OTA were 0.12/0.10 and 0.36/0.30 µg kg?1, respectively. Only 5% of the samples were contaminated with AFs, ranging 0.15–2.58 µg kg?1 with a mean of 0.05 ± 0.26 µg kg?1. None of the raisin samples exhibited AFs contamination above the maximum limit (ML = 4 µg kg?1) as set by the European Union (EU). About 72% of the samples were contaminated with OTA, ranging 0.14–12.75 µg kg?1 with a mean of 2.10 ± 1.9 µg kg?1. However, in 95.3% of the tested samples, OTA level was lower than the ML of 10 µg kg?1 as regulated by the EU. Apparently, a strict and continuous monitoring plan, including regulatory limits, improves food safety and quality for all types of commodities. |
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| Keywords: | Aflatoxins Ochratoxin A raisins contamination HPLC Pakistan |
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