Investigation of natural occurence of mycotoxins in plain pestils and pestils with dried nuts

In this study, aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1 and fumonisin B2 content of 60 pestil samples (14 mulberry, 8 nut mulberry, 12 walnut mulberry, 10 grape, 8 plum, 6 apricot, 2 fig) obtained from the Eagean market were determined. Moisture, water activity and pH value of pestil samples and the effects of these parameters on toxin contents were also detected. Moisture content, water activity and pH of pestil samples were between 10.67 – 28.03%, 0.52 – 0.61 and 3.33 – 7.39. One of 60 pestil samples were contaminated with aflatoxin G2, two of 60 pestil samples were contaminated with aflatoxin G1, eight of 60 samples were contaminated with aflatoxin B2 and eleven of 60 samples were contaminated with aflatoxin B1. 59 of 60 samples were contaminated with ochratoxin varying between 0.12 – 0.84 ng/g. All of 60 samples were contaminated with fumonisin B1 varying between 200.46 – 447.82 ng/g and 10 samples were contaminated with fumonisin B2 between 203.26 – 274.50 ng/g. Besides, it was observed that mycotoxin content of pestil samples was lower than legal limits. The aim of this study is to determine aflatoxin, ochratoxin and fumonisin contents of fruit pestils which limited researchers have been conducted on and raise awareness of manufacturers about production and storage steps. By examining the traditional products in terms of mycotoxins, both producers and consumers will be made aware of this issue and attracted attention to these products.