Investigation of aflatoxin contamination in maize flour consumed in Giresun, Turkey

WOS: 000376603600009Keeping mould away from food and agricultural products is one of the major difficulties encountered in cultivation areas. Studies on mycotoxin contamination in agricultural products consumed as food in Turkey have been accelerated by the detection of aflatoxin and aflatoxigenic mould in nuts, pistachios, red pepper and dried figs. However, not much research has been performed to reveal the problems related to aflatoxin in maize flour in Turkey. In this study, maize flour samples were obtained from different vendors at bazaars (marketplace) in the province of Giresun, and the aflatoxin level was determined by the high performance liquid chromatography. In 11 of the 69 (16%) samples that were analysed, aflatoxin was detected in the range of 0.379-24.54 mu g/kg total aflatoxin. The total aflatoxin level in one sample and the aflatoxin B-1 level in two samples were found to be above the permissible toxin limits of Turkey and the European Union. The data obtained in this study are important in terms of human health, because aflatoxin B-1 and G(1) are powerful carcinogens known to cause liver cancer. Maize is known to be contaminated by aflatoxin. Moreover, as the prevalence of this in Turkish maize from the Black Sea region has not been previously studied, these results indicate the extent of human exposure from consuming locally produced Turkish maize.Giresun University Research FundGiresun University [08/09]This work was supported by Giresun University Research Fund (Project No. 08/09)