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Original Articles

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in export quality raisins collected from different areas of Pakistan

, &
Pages 51-58 | Received 19 Sep 2015, Accepted 29 Nov 2015, Published online: 12 Jan 2016
 

ABSTRACT

During 2012–2014, 170 samples of export quality raisins were collected from different vendors in Pakistan. The collected samples were analysed for the presence of aflatoxins (AFs) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination using high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of AFs/OTA were 0.12/0.10 and 0.36/0.30 µg kg−1, respectively. Only 5% of the samples were contaminated with AFs, ranging 0.15–2.58 µg kg−1 with a mean of 0.05 ± 0.26 µg kg−1. None of the raisin samples exhibited AFs contamination above the maximum limit (ML = 4 µg kg−1) as set by the European Union (EU). About 72% of the samples were contaminated with OTA, ranging 0.14–12.75 µg kg−1 with a mean of 2.10 ± 1.9 µg kg−1. However, in 95.3% of the tested samples, OTA level was lower than the ML of 10 µg kg−1 as regulated by the EU. Apparently, a strict and continuous monitoring plan, including regulatory limits, improves food safety and quality for all types of commodities.

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