A survey was carried out to assess the mycotoxin (aflatoxins) contamination in locally grown peanuts. A total of 72 samples of raw, roasted and salty peanuts were collected randomly from the Pothohar Plateau of Pakistan. The samples were dried, ground and extracted by adding acetonitrile:water (84:16; v/v%). The filtered extracts were cleaned with MycoSep-226 columns and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. The limit of quantification for aflatoxin B1 was 1 μg/kg with 70% recovery observed in spiked samples with a concentration range of 1-10 μg/kg. The results indicated that aflatoxins were present in almost 82% of the samples tested, with levels ranging from 14.3 to 98.8 μg/kg. This reflects that optimal conditions for fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination are frequent in peanut crop fields as well as in storehouses. Human exposure to such toxins can be controlled through appropriate measures, creating awareness and implementing regulations.
Keywords: HPLC; Pakistan; aflatoxin; peanut.