Aflatoxins contamination in nuts for direct human consumption: analytical findings from three years of official control in Italy
Valeria Vita, Cinzia Franchino, Marco Iammarino, Rita De Pace
Abstract
Summary In this study, an Enzyme‐Linked Immuno Assay (ELISA) was used to detect the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total aflatoxins (AFTs) in 200 samples of nuts for human consumption. The analytical technique was validated, with detection limit equal to 1 µg kg ‐1 and recovery percentage exceeding 90% for both AFB1 and AFT. The percentage of samples with aflatoxins concentration higher than legal limits amounted to 9% and 10% for AFB1 for AFT, respectively, and they were composed of almond and pistachio. Three samples of almond and 15 of pistachio resulted as non‐complaint for AFB1. Other 2 samples of pistachio were non‐compliant only for AFT. Taking into account that the levels exceeded up to five times the maximum permitted limits set by European Commission (AFT maximum concentration: 52.8 µg kg ‐1 ), the results of this survey confirmed the need of official control and the reliability of ELISA as sensitive screening method.