Abstract:
Aflatoxins (AF) are highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary fungal metabolites and have been detected in various food commodities including cereals. Rice samples collected during 2008–2009 were analyzed for aflatoxin B₁(AFB₁), aflatoxin B₂ (AFB₂), aflatoxin G1 (AFG₁) and aflatoxin G₂(AFG₂) by thin layer chromatographic (TLC) technique. In total, 40 rice samples were collected and after dividing samples to sub-samples, AF analyses were carried out. AFB1 was detected in 28 samples (70 % of the total). The mean of AFB₁ was 3.7ng/g for all samples. Total AF (AFT) was detected in 28 samples (70 % of the total). The mean of AFT was 4.9ng/g for all samples. AFB1 levels in 20 samples were below the maximum tolerated level (MTL) of AFB₁(2ng/g). Regarding AFT, the mean contamination level (4.9ng/g) was higher than the EU maximum permissible level for AFT (4ng/g).
