Assessment of Total Aflatoxin Content in Dry Fruits Samples Collected from Local Markets of Lahore, Pakistan
Aflatoxins in dry fruits
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This report presents an evaluation of the concentration of total aflatoxins in a range of dry fruits obtained from local markets in Lahore, Pakistan. It also proposes some risk mitigation strategies through detoxification. The analysis involved appropriate techniques to accurately quantify the total aflatoxin (AF) content in each sample. According to the findings, AFs were not found in any of the branded dry fruit samples. However, AFB1 contamination in open samples of almonds, peanuts, apricots, walnuts, raisins, figs, and coconut was found in concentrations exceeding the EU guidelines. Furthermore, dry fruit samples collected from branded companies showed no AF- contamination. These findings suggest potentially high health risks posed by using dry fruits from open markets. This fact further emphasizes the importance of detoxification methods for safer consumption.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Sadaf Sarfraz, Muhammad Ikram, Manzar Zahra, Shabbir Hussain, Abdul Barri
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