1. Surveillance and control of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1 in foodstuffs in the Republic of Cyprus: 1992-1996
- Author
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Eleni Ioannou-Kakouri, Artemisia Hadjioannou-Ralli, Maria Aletrari, Athena Koliou, Eftychia Christou, and Dina Akkelidou
- Subjects
Quality Control ,Aflatoxin ,Aflatoxin B1 ,Peanut butter ,Pasteurization ,Food Contamination ,Biology ,Analytical Chemistry ,law.invention ,Toxicology ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Aflatoxins ,law ,Aflatoxin contamination ,Environmental Chemistry ,Animals ,Nuts ,Mycotoxin ,Pharmacology ,Maximum level ,Reproducibility of Results ,Milk ,chemistry ,Critical control point ,Cyprus ,Seeds ,Aflatoxin M1 ,Edible Grain ,Agronomy and Crop Science ,Food Analysis ,Food Science - Abstract
Aflatoxins (AFs) B1, B2, G1, and G2 in locally produced and imported foodstuffs (nuts, cereals, oily seeds, pulses, etc.) were monitored and controlled systematically and effectively from 1992–1996. Samples (peanuts, pistachios, etc.) with total AFs above the Cyprus maximum level (ML) of 10 μg/kg fluctuated between 0.7 and 6.9%. The results indicate the effectiveness of monitoring, as well as the need for constant surveillance and control, especially at critical control points (sites of import, primary storage, etc.), to prevent unfit products from entering the Cyprus market. The control included sampling, retainment, analysis, and destruction of foodstuff lots with AF levels above MLs. The highest incidence of aflatoxin contamination was observed in peanut butter (56.7%) and the highest level of AF B1 was found in peanuts (700 μg/kg). Levels of AF M1 in raw and pasteurized milk analyzed in 1993,1995, and 1996 were within both the Cyprus ML (0.5 μg/L) and the lower ML (0.05 μg/L) of some European countries. Only 12% of samples had detectable levels of AF M1. Analyses were performed by immunochemical methods. When recoveries were lower than 80%, the AF levels were corrected for recovery.
- Published
- 1999