Assessment to propose a maximum permitted level for ochratoxin A in dried figs

Abstract

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) are chemical hazards in dried figs that induce adverse effects on international trade. However, there is no maximum level (ML) for OTA in dried figs worldwide. Risk assessment of OTA in dried figs has drawn great attention for establishing an ML or providing other risk management advice to control or prevent contamination. In this study, the occurrence of aflatoxins and OTA in dried figs available on the Turkish market was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The incidence rates for aflatoxins and OTA were 14 % and 8 %, respectively. The present study also aims to estimate chronic dietary exposure to OTA, as well as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the sum of aflatoxins (AFT) and assess the risks to human health. The mean chronic dietary exposure estimates to AFB1, AFT and OTA for adults across the two consumption scenarios amounted to 0.0039–0.1341, 0.0044–0.1682 and 0.0005–0.0491 ng kg-1 b.w. day-1, respectively. Under the scenario of the high consumption, the calculated margin of exposure (MOE) values for AFB1 were lower than 10 000, which raises a health concern. However, the estimates of exposure to OTA based on both available occurrence data and different hypothetical MLs resulted in higher than an MOE of 10 000, and there is no health concern. This study also proposes setting an ML of 8 or 10 µg kg-1 for OTA in dried figs by the national and international authorities for protecting consumer health.