Research Publications (Food Safety)

Saxitoxin (STX), one of paralytic shellfish poison neurotoxins with high toxicity, posing a significant threat to seafood safety. Therefore, it is of great need to protect human health by screening STX contaminated seafood samples.

The current study aimed to evaluate aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in a total number of 240 samples collected during four consecutive seasons (from January to November 2022) from two western Iranian provinces (Ilam and Lorestan). AFM1 was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector after the toxin extraction with immunoaffinity columns. The results showed 100% of AFM1 contamination in all the surveyed matrices.

Sufu is the traditional fermented soybean products in China. The aim of this study was to establish a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of 3 monascus pigments and citrinin in sufu, assess the content of them in sufu samples obtained from market. The extracted sufu samples were purified by optimized SPE methods: discard the first 1 mL of effluent and collect the rest for HPLC-MS/MS determination.

Fumonisin Bs (FBs) are the most common toxic and carcinogenic substances found among naturally occurring contaminants of cereals. A group-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2H7 was prepared that equably recognized fumonisins B1 (FB1), B2 (FB2), and B3 (FB3) with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the three forms of 1.52, 2.93, and 3.85 ng/mL, respectively.

This study examined the impact of aflatoxin contamination on rice, a widely consumed staple food. Various forms and types of rice from three regions in Pakistan between 2019 and 2022 were investigated for their relationship with processing, infestation severity and physicochemical characteristics. Semi-polished rice displayed the highest aflatoxin levels employing significant variability, while parboiled rice was also found to be contaminated.

A method for the accurate determination of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 in grains was established using isotope dilution-ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-UHPLCMS/MS). 13C- labeled 

The detection of aflatoxin B in raw food materials represents a topic of great interest worldwide because of the huge health and economic impact of aflatoxin contamination.

As a relatively mature detection method, the test strip can quickly and sensitively detect the target. We designed an immunochromatographic strip based on biotin-streptavidin system to protect antibody (Ab) activity and achieve signal amplification. The coupling condition of biotin (B) and antibody is relatively mild, which protects the activity of antibody.

The developed multispectral imaging system was tested in the current study for its detection accuracy of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in single kernel almonds.

This paper presents a new analytical procedure based on combination of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) and vortex-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (VA-DLLME) for the accurate and reliable determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dried fruit samples.

Presence of Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) in a total of 54 corn-based products were analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detector. The presence of fumonisin in corn-based products frequently consumed by children and university students was investigated and the evaluation of the probable daily intakes (PDIs) were estimated. Fumonisins (FB1+FB2) were found in 30 of 54 samples (55.6 %) at concentrations from 18 to 5055 ng/g.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (NanoCeO2) and bentonite (Bent) based nanocomposite (CeO2-Bent) aqueous sensor drop casted on paper substrate has been used to detect food borne Aflatoxins (AFs) by Curcumin (Cur) functionalized redox reaction mediated colorimetric detection. Optical studies reveal that when chromophore-like Cur is first added to Nano CeO2/Bent, it creates a chelate complex that serves as a mediator for enhanced binding with AFs.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the concentration and health risk of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), heavy metals (HMs), and phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in peanut samples in Shandong Province, China, and 255 peanut samples were collected from 20 counties in 2020.

The aim of this study was to monitor the aflatoxin M1 contamination in raw milk and drinking milk in Hungary over a one-year period. A total of 474 milk samples of raw milk (n=278) commercial milk (n=196) were collected and analysed between September 2021 and November 2022. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) determined the concentration of AFM1.

A method was first developed based on MIL-101(Cr) dispersive solid-phase extraction for determining fumonisins in edible vegetable oil. Fumonisins contain hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and were easily adsorbed by MIL-101(Cr) with intermolecular force.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a low-weight molecule toxin which can cause great damage to human health. A multicolor immunosensor for determination of ZEN was developed based on etching gold nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) mediated by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In this new immunosensor, the anti-ZEN monoclonal antibody (McAb) induced the formation of ternary immunocomplex BSA-ZEN@McAb@HRP-IgG. Then, TMB was converted to TMB+ under the catalysis of HRP.

Food pollution caused by Patulin (PAT) seriously threatens the safety of human diets and has attracted extensive attention. Early and accurate detections of PAT are essential to prevent further toxin spreading and contamination. A surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) aptasensor was fabricated by combining a gold-silver core-shell structure containing signal molecule (ADANRs) and chitosan modified magnetic nanoparticles (CS-Fe3O4).

Flour samples spiked with ochratoxin A (OTA) (3,10 and 20 μg kg–1), zearalenone (ZEA) (75, 100, and 200 μg kg–1), and deoxynivalenol (DON) (500, 750, and 1000 μg kg–1), and combined mycotoxins (OTA, ZEA and DON at 20,

The potential ingestion of food products contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA) is cause of concern for public health. Currently, several detection methods are available to detect OTA in singles spices but not in spice mixtures such as merkén. The present study modified, optimized, and validated a method for successful OTA quantification in merkén, paprika, and chili.

The detection of ochratoxin A (OTA), a harmful toxic contaminant of foods causing serious health problems, is of great importance. Common analytical methods for this purpose are expensive, time- and labor-consuming.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite of filamentous fungi and is considered within the 2B group by IARC. OTA can be found in a variety of food commodities and beverages. In this study, a new methodology for the detection and quantification of OTA in coffee beverages was developed and validated. The extraction procedure was based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with solidification of a floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO). The extract was analyzed by UHPLC-(ESI+)-MS/MS.

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) are chemical hazards in dried figs that induce adverse effects on international trade. However, there is no maximum level (ML) for OTA in dried figs worldwide. Risk assessment of OTA in dried figs has drawn great attention for establishing an ML or providing other risk management advice to control or prevent contamination.

Activated carbon-boron (AC-B) nanocomposite has been developed as a new solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the extraction and specification of aflatoxins (AFs) in nuts. Porous activated carbon was produced by the chemical activation method from potato peels, which is important biomass waste, and boron was incorporated into the structure.

The principal purpose of this study was to investigate the amount and human health risk assessment by Monte Carlo simulation for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in Kermanshah province, Iran.

This study assessed the adsorption capacity and stability of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Ochratoxin A (OTA), and Zearalenon (ZEA) via Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 individually and in combination with each other. Detoxifying efficiency depends on lactic acid bacteria species (hydrophobicity of cell wall), pH, temperature, time and mycotoxin type.