Aflatoxins as Food Contaminants

Abstract

Mycotoxins are nowadays one of the most known and most frequent chemical food contaminants. Among the listed mycotoxins, aflatoxins are the most important group of mycotoxins in terms of impact on human and animal health. Of the known mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 is considered the most toxic. The main sources of aflatoxins are cereals, oilseeds, nuts, dried fruit, and spices. The most commonly used screening method for the detection of mycotoxins is the immunoenzyme (ELISA) method. The purpose of this paper is to show the types of foodstuffs and the results of sample analyses of aflatoxin B1 in these foodstuffs carried out at the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Srpska - Regional Center Doboj in the period from 2011 to 2017, and to propose measures for improvement of supervision in this area, i.e. to recommend certain measures in order to prevent the occurrence of aflatoxins in foodstuffs.