Aflatoxins: Occurrence, biosynthesis, mechanism of action and effects, conventional/emerging detection techniques

•Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species predominantly found in various food products.•This review comprehensively discusses aflatoxin occurrence, biosynthesis, mechanism of action, and associated health effects.•Various detection techniques for aflatoxin are also reviewed, focusing on their applications, advantages, limitations, and future perspectives for emerging sensor techniques. Aflatoxins (AFs) are toxic secondary metabolites prevalent in various food and agricultural products, posing significant challenges to global food safety. The detection and quantification of AFs through high-precision analytical techniques are crucial in mitigating AF contamination levels and associated health risks. Variousmethods,including conventional and emerging techniques, have been developed for detecting and quantifyingAFsinfood samples. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the global occurrence of AF in food commodities, covering their biosynthesis, mode of action, and effects on humans and animals. Additionally, the review discusses different conventional strategies, including chromatographic and immunochemical approaches, for AF quantification and identification in food samples. Furthermore, emerging AF detection strategies, such as solid-state gas sensors and electronic nose technologies, along with their applications, limitations, and future perspectives, were reviewed. Sample purification, along with their respective advantages and limitations, are also discussed herein.