Aflatoxins levels in vegetable oils in Khartoum State, Sudan

Vegetable oil (n=81) for human consumption from Khartoum State in Sudan were analyzed for aflatoxins (AFs), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection following extraction with methanol:water (80:20) and clean-up using petroleum ether. Sampling included sesame oil (n=14), peanut oil (n=21), and sunflower oil (n=19) purchased from retail shops, and mixed oil produced by two local manufacturers (factory A, n=15; factory B, n=12). AF contamination was found in 80/81 (98.8%) samples, with total AF levels (AFB1 + AFB2 + AFG1 + AFG2) of 0.43-339.9 μg/kg and mean level of 57.5 μg/kg. All sesame oils had total AF levels that were much higher than the United States Food and Drug Administration acceptable limit of 20 μg/ kg. The percentage of samples with total AF values <20 μg/ kg in other oils varied and was 57.14% in peanut oil, 36.8% in sunflower oil, 66.7% (mixed oil from factory A), and 91.7% (mixed oil from factory B). In conclusion, the levels of total AFs in edible oil as available in Khartoum State are quite alarming. To reduce the health hazards for the consumers, an intervention strategy to manage AFs in food commodities from Sudan is urgently required. © Society for Mycotoxin Research and Springer 2010.