Limited survey for the presence of aflatoxins in foods from local markets and supermarkets in Valencia, Spain

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion with C18 silica and acetonitrile as the eluting solvent, analysed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and confirmed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry using an electrospray interface in 58 samples grouped as cereals, dried fruits, herbs and spices, pulses, snacks, and nuts and nut products collected from local markets and supermarkets in Valencia, Spain. All samples analysed by the proposed method were previously studied with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a screening protocol for the fast detection of mycotoxins. The samples containing residues (3/58) were hazelnut (0.42 and 0.52 μg kg⁻¹ for AFB1 and AFG1, respectively), nut cocktail (0.29 and 0.47 μg kg⁻¹ for AFB1 and AFG1, respectively) and pinhol (0.30 μg kg⁻¹ for AFG1). Such values were below the legislated maximum residue levels for the European Union.

Keywords:

• aflatoxins
• matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD)
• liquid chromatography (LC)
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• nuts
• cereals
• spices
• snacks
• dried fruits

Acknowledgements

Work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (AGL-2003-01407).