Aflatoxins in composite spices collected from local markets of Karachi, Pakistan

作者：Asghar Muhammad Asif^*; Zahir Erum; Rantilal Summan; Ahmed Aftab; Iqbal Javed

来源：Food Additives & Contaminants Part B-Surveillance, 2016, 9(2): 113-119.

DOI：10.1080/19393210.2016.1150356

• Aflatoxins
• composite spices
• contamination
• HPLC
• Pakistan

This survey was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of total aflatoxins (AFs; B-1+B-2+G(1)+G(2)) 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 mu gkg(-1) with a mean of 4.63 +/- 0.95 mu gkg(-1). In 88% (n=66) samples, AFs level was below the maximum limits (ML=10 mu gkg(-1)) as imposed by EU. Furthermore, 61% (n=46) tested samples contained AFs level between 1 and 10 mu gkg(-1), 9% (n=7) exhibited AFs contamination ranged 10-20 mu gkg(-1) and only 3% (n=2) of the investigated samples contained AFs levels higher than the ML of 20 mu gkg(-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.

• 出版日期2016-6