Aflatoxin contamination in edible nuts imported in Qatar

Edible nuts imported in Qatar from June 1997 to December 1998 were anlaysed for aflatoxins. Eighty-one nut samples were analysed in the second half of 1997 and contamination was detected in 19 samples with total aflatoxin level varied from a low of about 0.53 to a high of 289 μg/kg. Aflatoxin contamination was detected in pistachios and peanuts, while other nuts such as almond, cashew nut, walnut and hazel nut were found free from aflatoxins. During 1998 testing was carried out only for pistachios and about 101 samples were analysed; contamination was detected in 48 samples with total aflatoxin level in the range of 1.2–275 μg/kg. In pistachios without shell level of contamination was very high (total aflatoxin 8.3–275 μg/kg) compared to pistachio with shell (total aflatoxin 1.2–75 μg/kg). Aflatoxin B1 and B2 were detected in all the contaminated samples of pistachios, whereas aflatoxin G1 and G2 were detected only in three samples of pistachios at the level of 0.8–1.9 μg/kg for aflatoxin G1 and 0.4–1.3 μg/kg for aflatoxin G2.