Detection of Aflatoxin in Cold-Press Sesame oil in Isfahan, Iran

Aflatoxins are highly toxic lead to adverse health effects. Inappropriate storage of sesame seeds may produce aflatoxins that transfer to manufactured oil. Therefore this toxin can transfer to human by consumption of contaminated oil. Regarding this, the present study was carried out to investigate the amount of aflatoxin in cold-press sesame oil in Isfahan, Iran.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 36 cold-press sesame oil samples were randomly selected from active processing plants in Isfahan. Aflatoxins were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in sesame oil.

Total aflatoxin contamination (B1, B2, G1, and G2) was observed in 69.4% of the sesame oil samples. In all the contaminated samples, B1 aflatoxin was detected in mean level of 0.426±0.473 ppb. Furthermore, B2 aflatoxin had a mean level of 0.033±0.106 ppb. However, G1 and G2 aflatoxins were not observed in any of the samples. Accordingly, the level of aflatoxin was lower than the limit defined by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran.

Based on the findings, the aflatoxin level was lower than the acceptable range defined by the national standard. However, the high frequency of aflatoxin contamination in the evaluated sesame oil samples can cause serious health problems after long-term usage, especially with regard to the fact that this product is consumed on a daily basis.