Contamination by Aflatoxins B/G in Food and Commodities Imported in Southern Italy from 2017 to 2020: A Risk-Based Evaluation

Abstract

This study reports the results of aflatoxins B/G monitoring in food of vegetal origin, imported in Southern Italy from extra-European Union countries. From 2017 to 2020, we analyzed 1675 samples using an accredited HPLC method with fluorescence detection. We found out 295 samples (17.6%) were contaminated by aflatoxin B1, 204 by aflatoxins B/G (12.2%), while 75 (4.5%) resulted non-compliant to maximum limits set by the European Union law. Most of the batches tested were unprocessed food; the distribution of contamination levels, incidence of non-compliant samples, inference for different kinds of food are reported. The study focuses on the food more susceptible to contamination by aflatoxins; nuts are the food more controlled, showing the higher number of non-compliant samples. Our study confirms that pistachio nuts, hazelnuts and almonds are the major sources of exposure for consumers. Still, other products, such as chili pepper and Brazil nuts, need to get more information about their contamination levels. The study’s findings are discussed in the perspective of the last opinion by EFSA about chronic exposure to aflatoxins. A case study to evaluate not compliance of a composed food to the European Union law is reported.

Aflatoxin B1 DNA-Adducts in Hepatocellular Carcinoma from a Low Exposure Area

“…A rat model of AFB1-exposed HCC was also investigated to ascertain morphologic similarities with the human counterpart. Contrarily to previous reports [7,16], AFB1-adducts were recognized not only in hepatocytes, but also in tumor-infiltrating cells. This can be explained by the kind of AFB1 exposure in our cohort, which is expected to occur at low concentrations, maybe intermittently.…”

“…Indeed, the 2003 maize contamination revealed by rigorous food controls in Italy suggests also paying attention to AFB1 contamination in geographical areas considered at low risk. More recently, aflatoxins contamination was found in pistachio nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and chili peppers marketed in southern Italy [16]. Due to this food contamination, we hypothesized that AFB1 adducts might be found in the liver of Italian patients.…”

Current Developments of Analytical Methodologies for Aflatoxins’ Determination in Food during the Last Decade (2013–2022), with a Particular Focus on Nuts and Nut Products

“…Various foodstuffs can contain AFs, such as nuts, cereals, spices, oilseed crops, milk and dairy products, and other foods of animal origin [28]. AFs can be produced on cereals (with rice and corn being the most contaminated) in the field as well as during storage, involving the whole plant and/or the grain.…”

Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the prospection of chemical hazards of interest in food safety in Spain (2)

“…In addition, Demirhan and Demirham (2022) found 50 % positive samples, with averages between 0.21 and 1.03 μg/kg in hazelnut cream. Gallo et al (2021) analysed the results obtained between 2017-2020 by an official control laboratory located in southern Italy, concluding that 4.5 % of the samples of batches imported from countries outside the European Union exceeded the maximum limit, of which 13.3 % corresponded to hazelnuts, being only exceeded by pistachios (52 %). 5.6 % of the hazelnut samples analysed were non-compliant.…”