Total aflatoxin, aflatoxin B-1 and ochratoxin A levels in Turkish wheat flour

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the total aflatoxin (total AF), aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels in 100 samples of wheat flour obtained from 7 different producing regions of Thrace by the microtitre plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to the EC Regulation and the Turkish Food Codex, the total AF, AFB(1), and OTA levels were between minimum detection limit (0.05, < 1.0, 0.025 mu g/kg) and the maximum tolerable limit (4, 2, 3 mu g/kg) in 43, 18 and 53 samples, respectively. Whilst 2, 2 and 28 samples had unacceptable contamination levels higher than the maximum tolerable limits, respectively. This is the first study in Thrace, Turkey on account of OTA, and the presence of OTA in 81% of analysed samples and taking part in South-Eastern Europe of sampling area would be indirectly related to Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and also be of risk to public healthy.