Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Due to the fact that fungal species, such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus produce carcinogenic and mutagenic aflatoxins and have the potential to produce fungal secondary metabolites, fungal contamination should be avoided. This study was conducted using the HPLC method and aimed to examine the fungal contamination of Isfahan hazelnuts in order to identify the presence of Aflatoxins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 100 samples of hazelnuts were randomly collected from supermarkets in Isfahan. The samples were then cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar media and analyzed to determine fungal contaminations. The aflatoxin analysis was carried out using the HPLC method. RESULTS: It was discovered that nine genera of fungi, namely Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Ulocladium, Alternaria, Drechselera, Trichothecium, Scopulariopsis, and Mucor were identified in 78% of the samples. Samples contaminated with Aspergillus flavus (22 samples) were studied to determine the presence of aflatoxin. The results showed that 16 (72.72%) of the samples were contaminated with AFB1, AFB2, and AFG2 and the mean concentrations were 0.926, 0.563, and 0.155 ng/g, respectively. CONCLUSION: Some parameters that affect mycotoxin production are temperature, food substrate, the strain of the mold, and other environmental factors. Due to the toxigenic quality of some of these fungi and their hazard to human health, it is crucial that fungal contamination and aflatoxin identification tests are carried out before certain products are made available to the mass market.