Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Selected Dry Fruits, Impact of Storage Conditions on Contamination Levels and Associated Health Risks on Pakistani Consumers

Iqra Naeem; Amir Ismail; Awais Ur Rehman; Zubair Ismail; Shehzadi Saima; Ambreen Naz; Asim Faraz; Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira; Noreddine Benkerroum; Muhammad Zahid Aslam; Rashida Aslam

doi:10.3390/ijerph19063404

Prevalence of Aflatoxins in Selected Dry Fruits, Impact of Storage Conditions on Contamination Levels and Associated Health Risks on Pakistani Consumers

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 14;19(6):3404. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063404.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan.
² Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan.
³ Department of Food Science and Technology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Livestock & Poultry Production, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Food Engineering, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil.
⁶ Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Rd Charlottetown, Charlottetown, PE C1A 5T1, Canada.
⁷ Cotton Research Station (CRS), Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
⁸ Cytogenetics Section, Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan 60000, Pakistan.

Abstract

Dry fruits and nuts are nutritious foods with several health-promoting properties. However, they are prone to contamination with aflatoxins at all stages of production and storage. The present study aimed to determine the natural occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), and total aflatoxins (AFT) in dates, pistachios, and walnuts collected from four districts of South Punjab (Pakistan), and to assess the associated health risks as estimated by dietary exposure and the Margin of Exposure (MoE) determinations. The contents of AFB1 and AFT in these food products were monitored during storage under three different conditions (open-air, hermetically closed jars, and refrigeration at 4 °C) to determine the most efficient conditions in preventing aflatoxin accumulation. HPLC-fluorescence analysis of 60 samples of these products for aflatoxin contamination showed that 52 (86.7%) samples were contaminated at different levels, with a maximum of 24.2 ng/g. The overall (all samples) mean concentrations of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, and AFT were 3.39 ± 2.96, 1.39 ± 1.68, 1.63 ± 1.48. 1.12 ± 1.23, and 7.54 ± 6.68, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) and MoE of aflatoxins through the consumption of the products ranged from 0.06 ng/kg bw/day to 2.0 ng/kg bw/day and from 84.84 to 2857.13, respectively, indicating that consumers are at high health risk. Significant differences were recorded between aflatoxin levels in the samples stored under different storage conditions, with storage under refrigeration (4 °C) being the most effective in controlling aflatoxin accumulation, although storage in closed jars was also efficient and offers a more flexible alternative to retailers. The findings of the study urge official authorities of Pakistan to implement appropriate regulatory and control measures and surveillance program to alleviate the potential public health risks associated with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts in the scope of their increased consumption.

Keywords: aflatoxin; cold storage; dates; dry fruits; margin of exposure (MoE); open air; pistachios; risk assessment; storage; walnuts.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aflatoxin B1 / analysis
Aflatoxins* / analysis
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Food Contamination / analysis
Fruit* / chemistry
Pakistan
Prevalence

Substances

Aflatoxins
Aflatoxin B1