Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Commercial Cereal-based Baby Foods in Iran: A Probabilistic Risk Assessment to Health

The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Aflatoxins (AFs) including B1, B2, G1 and G2 in commercial cereal-based baby foods by HPLC-FLD method in Iran and related risk assessment in three baby age groups (6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 months) using Monte Carlo simulation approach. Results showed an occurrence ranging from 20% to 60% for B1, B2, and G2 aflatoxins, while AFG1 was not detected in any assessed samples. Exposure and risk assessment was estimated to be two groups (aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins). The highest estimated dietary exposure to both AFB1 and total AFs was estimated for 6-12 months aged babies, representing 5.81 ng/kg BW/day and 8.55 ng/kg BW/day, respectively. Overall, the margin of exposures to AFB1 and total AFs were lower than 10,000 in all age groups, indicating a health concern about AFB1 and total AFs exposure through cereal-based baby food consumption. High cancer risk for high consumers (P95) of baby food was also estimated in all age groups, calling for immediate intervention due to serious claims that AFB1, is a highly carcinogenic component, causes hepatocellular carcinoma. Risk ranking results indicated the presence of AFB1 is classified as high risk for babies who consume cereal-based foods, which demands the attention of risk managers to reduce or eliminate this risk for the most vulnerable sector of society, whose aged <24 months.