Investigating and comparing the amount of aflatoxin B1 in imported sesame seeds in Zahedan customs in 2023

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 food science and technology, school of medical science, zahedan university of medical sciences, zahedan, iran

2 Phd student, Zahedan University of medical sciences, zahedan, Iran

3 Departement of food science and technology, Zahedan University of medical sciences, zahedan, Iran

4 Deputy office of food snd drug, Zahedan University of medical sciences, zahedan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Sesame seeds with the scientific name Sesamum indicum L. are one of the most important oil seeds in the household food basket, which grows in tropical and subtropical countries. Contamination of oilseeds and especially sesame with mycotoxins (especially aflatoxin B1) and its wide range of adverse effects on various organs of the human and animal bodies can have many human and financial losses on people and the economy of countries;
Methods: In this observational and cross-sectional study, 180 samples of sesame seeds imported to Zahedan Customs in 2023 were studied using available sampling method. Then, the amount of aflatoxin B1 was checked using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and moisture content, and the results were analyzed using SPSS version 26 statistical software and analyzed with mean and standard deviation tests.


Results: The mean and standard deviation of aflatoxin B1 values in imported sesame were equal to 1.94 and 1.08 ppb, respectively; However, two sesame samples had aflatoxin B1 levels (5.5 and 5.2 ppb) higher than the maximum of Iran's national standard (5 ppb).

Conclusions: In the present study, the frequency of aflatoxin B1 contamination in the analyzed sesame samples was equal to 1.1%; which indicates the favorable condition of imported sesame seeds in terms of fungal contamination. it is suggested to make a more accurate assessment in terms of the amount of microbial contamination of oilseeds with an amendment in the national standard of Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 69, Issue 2
May 2026
Pages 142-152

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