Evaluation of aflatoxin content in pistachio, almond, hazelnut and walnut in Isfahan

Aflatoxins are a group of closely related carcinogenic metabolites produced by certain species of Aspergillus. The objective of this study was to detect the level of aflatoxin in nuts. A total of 80 samples of nuts including, pistachio (20), almond (20), hazelnut (20) and walnut (20) were collected and were analyzed (using HPLC) for aflatoxin B and aflatoxin G in Isfahan during 2016. The aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and total aflatoxin were found in 2.5%, 5.5%, 5.7%, 7.2%, and 10% of the analyzed sample (by an average concentration of 8.32, 5.635, 3.067, 1.705 and 10.375 ppb), respectively. The concentration of AFB1 in 66.67% and the concentration of AFT in 37.5% from positive samples were higher than the approved limit (5 ppm) of Iranian National Standard. The percentage of pistachio AF-positive nuts was significantly (p