Survey of aflatoxins in chillies from Pakistan produced in rural, semi-rural and urban environments

Abstract

Chilli peppers from Pakistan are consumed locally and also exported. Their quality is compromised by aflatoxins (AF) contamination. AF in chillies from rural, semi-rural and urban areas of the Punjab region of Pakistan were determined. Twenty-three (52.3%), 22 (50%) and 29 (65.9%) samples from rural, semi-rural and urban areas respectively, contained levels of aflatoxins which exceeded the European Union limits of >5 µg kg⁻¹ for AFB₁ and >10 µg kg⁻¹ for total AF that apply to spices. Mean values for AFB₁ in ground samples were 23.8, 14.8 and 14.0 µg kg⁻¹ for rural, semi-rural and urban areas, respectively. Mean total AF in ground samples were 27.7, 17.7 and 16.2 µg kg⁻¹ from equivalent locations. Eleven (50%), 12 (54.5%) and 14 (63.6%) whole samples from rural, semi-rural and urban areas, respectively, contained total levels of AF that exceeded European Union limits. The data indicate that individual localities have particular problems. In conclusion, the concentrations were often greater than the statutory limits set by the European Union.

Keywords:

• ingredients
• aflatoxins

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, under Indigenous PhD fellowship 5000 batch-III (Grant Number 063-00445-Ps3-047). R.R.M.P. is grateful for the FCT framework position: Commitment to Science (C2008-UMIN-HO-CEB-2).