Assessment of aflatoxins in some pistachio cultivars supplied in bulk in Tehran food stores

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tree nuts, especially pistachio kernels, are highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. These substances are produced by certain moulds such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Release of aflatoxins in pistachio bulks and their sources are the main causes of aflatoxin contamination in pistachio nuts. The aim of this study is the assessment of aflatoxins in some pistachio cultivars supplied in bulk in Tehran Food stores. Iranian pistachio cultivars such as Ahmad Aghaei, Akhbari closed-mouth, half-splitting Akbari, Ohadi, Badami Sefid, Chorouke, Khanjari Damghan, Abbas Ali, Fandoghi 48, Kaleghoochi, and Mumtaz, were randomly collected and sampled from nuts supply centres. Levels of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and total aflatoxin were measured in the cultivars using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The findings showed that aflatoxin B1 contamination was found only in Akbari closed-mouth (0.3 μg/kg) and Ohadi (0.4 μg/kg) pistachio cultivars (p < 0.05). Total aflatoxin levels in these two cultivars were measured at 0.3 and 0.4 μg/kg, respectively (p < 0.05), with no aflatoxin found in the other cultivars. The values measured in the present study are lower than the maximum tolerance established in the national standard for aflatoxin B1 (5 μg/kg) and the total aflatoxin (15 μg/kg) in the pistachio crop. It was concluded that the density of aflatoxin in highly consumed pistachio cultivars supplied in Tehran is within acceptable health and safety standards.