title: Aflatoxins in composite spices collected from local markets of Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: This survey was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of total aflatoxins (AFs; B1+B2+G1+G2) in unpacked composite spices. A total of 75 samples of composite spices such as biryani, karhai, tikka, nihari and korma masalas were collected from local markets of Karachi, Pakistan, and analysed using HPLC technique. The results indicated that AFs were detected in 77% (n = 58) samples ranging from 0.68 to 25.74 µg kg(-1) with a mean of 4.63 ± 0.95 µg kg(-1). In 88% (n = 66) samples, AFs level was below the maximum limits (ML = 10 µg kg(-1)) as imposed by EU. Furthermore, 61% (n = 46) tested samples contained AFs level between 1 and 10 µg kg(-1), 9% (n = 7) exhibited AFs contamination ranged 10-20 µg kg(-1) and only 3% (n = 2) of the investigated samples contained AFs levels higher than the ML of 20 µg kg(-1) for total aflatoxins as set by the USA. It was concluded that there is need to establish a strict and continuous national monitoring plan to improve safety and quality of spices in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: a Food and Feed Safety Laboratory, Food and Marine Resources Research Centre , PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Shahrah-e-Salimuzzaman Siddiqui , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.|b Department of Chemistry , University of Karachi , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Asif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry , University of Karachi , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Erum
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zahir
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemistry , University of Karachi , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Summan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rantilal
authors.affiliation: a Food and Feed Safety Laboratory, Food and Marine Resources Research Centre , PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Shahrah-e-Salimuzzaman Siddiqui , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aftab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: a Food and Feed Safety Laboratory, Food and Marine Resources Research Centre , PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Shahrah-e-Salimuzzaman Siddiqui , Karachi , Sindh , Pakistan.|c Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences , Waterford Institute of Technology , Waterford , Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iqbal
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003132:Commerce; D004032:Diet; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D017365:Spices / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins
keywords: Aflatoxins; HPLC; Pakistan; composite spices; contamination