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A survey of aflatoxins in sesame in Iran

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Abstract

A study of the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in sesame seeds was conducted in the Khorasan province of Iran between September 2009 and August 2010. Samples (n = 182) were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC), and detection limits for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, were 0.45, 0.19, 0.61, and 0.22 ng/g, respectively. AFB1 was detected in 33 samples (18.1%), at a mean level of 1.62 ± 1.32 ng/g, and a maximum level of 5.54 ng/g. AFB1 levels exceeded the European Union (EU) maximum tolerated level (MTL, 2 ng/g) in 9 samples, and the Iran MTL (5 ng/g) in 1 sample. Regarding total aflatoxins (AFT), the mean level was 0.92 ± 1.36 ng/g, and the maximum level was 5.54 ng/g. No sesame sample exceeded the Iran MTL (15 ng/g), but two samples exceeded the EU MTL (4 ng/g) for AFT. It is concluded that low levels of AFs occur frequently in sesame from Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Testa Quality Control Laboratory, North-East food Industrial Technology and Biotechnology Park, P.O. Box 134-157/91895, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Asadi, Hamed Reaza Beheshti & Javad Feizy

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  1. Mohammad Asadi
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  2. Hamed Reaza Beheshti
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  3. Javad Feizy
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Correspondence to Javad Feizy.

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Asadi, M., Beheshti, H.R. & Feizy, J. A survey of aflatoxins in sesame in Iran. Mycotoxin Res 27, 259–263 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0102-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0102-y

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