Natural Occurrence, Legislation, and Determination of Aflatoxins Using Chromatographic Methods in Food: A Review (from 2010 to 2019)

ABSTRACT

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites, and their appearance in the food chain is unfortunately unavoidable. Therefore, detection and quantification of aflatoxins is of key importance. Several methods have been developed for detecting and quantifying aflatoxins in food. This review highlights current legislation, and it evaluates the occurrence of aflatoxins in food. This also discusses aflatoxin detection and quantitation strategies, paying special attention to those based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in cereals, spices, milk, and dairy products. Sample pre-treatment as well as purification and extraction methods are also discussed.

Abbreviations: ACN: Acetonitrile; AOAC: Association of Analytical Communities; CID: Collision induced dissociation; DAD: Diode array detector; DART: Direct analysis in real time; DLLME: Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction; EFSA: European Food Safety Authority; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; EU: European Union; FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; FID: Flame ionization detector; FLD: Fluorescent detector; GC: Gas chromatography; HLLE: Homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; HPTLC: High-performance thin layer chromatography; IAC: Immunoaffinity column; IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer; LC: Liquid chromatography; LLE: Liquid-liquid extraction; LOD: Limit of detection; LOQ: Limit of quantification; MeOH: Methanol; MRM: Multi reaction monitoring; MS: Mass spectrometry; MS/MS: Tandem mass spectrometry; MSPE: Magnetic solid-phase extraction; OTA: Ochratoxin A; PSA: Primary secondary amine; RSD: Relative standard deviation; SFE: Supercritical fluid extraction; SPE: Solid-phase extraction; SPME: Solid-phase micro extraction; TFA: Trifluoroacetic acid; TFDA: Tanzania Food and Drug Authority; TLC: Thin layer chromatography; US: United States; UV: Ultraviolet; UHPLC: Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography; WHO: World Health Organization.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycotoxins
• aflatoxins
• food
• high-performance liquid chromatography
• LC-MS/MS

Acknowledgments

T. Lafarga is in receipt of a Juan de la Cierva contract awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness (FJCI-2016-29541).

Conflict of interests

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness [FJCI-2016-29541].