Aflatoxins in sunflower and safflower seeds from Iran.
Aflatoxin content of 173 sunflower and safflower seeds was determined by HPLC with immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up and fluorometric detection. Aflatoxin B1 contamination was found in 111 samples: in 8 of the sunflower seed samples (16%) at a mean level of 40.68 ng g(-1) and in 103 safflower seed samples (83.7%) at a mean level of 2.81 ± 0.44 ng g(-1). In 5 sunflower seed samples and 1 safflower seed sample, aflatoxin B1 levels were higher than the maximum levels of AFB1 under Iran regulations (5 ng g(-1)). Aflatoxin B1 levels in 5 sunflower and 2 safflower seed samples were higher than the European Union maximum limit (2 ng g(-1)).
a Testa Quality Control Laboratory , North-East Food Industrial Technology and Biotechnology Park , Mashhad , Iran.
Hamed Reza
HR
Beheshti
Mohammad
M
Asadi
D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005062:European Union; D005506:Food Contamination; D006368:Helianthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000348:Aflatoxins; D016604:Aflatoxin B1
HPLC; Iran; aflatoxins; safflower seed; sunflower seed