Original scientific paper

AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN EDIBLE NUTS IN CROATIA

Matej Šapina ; ZZJZ Osječko baranjske županije, Osijek, Hrvatska
Dinko Puntarić ; Medicinski fakultet Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska
Dunja Vujčić ; KBC Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska
Eda Puntarić ; Biološki odsjek, PMF, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ida Puntarić ; Dom zdravlja zagrebačke županije, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dijana Mayer ; HZJZ, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the presence and the quantity of aflatoxin levels in various types of commonly consumed nuts in Croatia. The total amount of 106 nut samples (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and walnuts) were collected on the Croatian market during the year 2007, after which the total aflatoxin content was determined using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The results showed that 91.5% (97/106) of the analyzed samples contained the total aflatoxin levels within the permitted range, while in 8.5% (9/106) of nut samples the aflatoxin levels were above the maximum permitted level of 4.0 μgkg-1, set by the European Union. Following nutritionists' recommendation, the nut consumption in daily nutrition in the Croatian general population has recently increased, thus continuous monitoring and control of aflatoxin levels in nuts is of great public health importance.

Keywords

aflatoxins; Croatia; food contamination; food safety; nuts; public health

Hrčak ID:

139637

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/139637

Publication date:

13.5.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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