Number: 1999-010-1-600 [ 6/2/99 ]
Title: Mycotoxin Methods for Developing Countries - Aflatoxins
in Paprika, Corn, Pistachios, Peanuts, and Figs
Coordinator(s): E.
Anklam - Access to list of
members
Remarks: Joint IUPAC/FAP/IAEA project
Completion Date: 2004 - project completed
Objective:
Coordination of collaborative trial studies for the determination of
aflatoxins in various food matrices by combination of a clean-up step
using immunoaffinity columns (IAC) coupled with thin layer chromatography
(TLC). The project is addressed to needs of developing countries and
the method validation will be carried out by involving only laboratories
from those countries.
Description:
The determination of aflatoxins on the matrices under examination is
usually performed by IAC- HPLC, the IAC clean-up being capable to a
suitable purification for the determination of aflatoxins at ppb levels.
Many food commodities are commonly produced in geographical regions
where analytical laboratoies rely mostly on robust and simple-to-use
analytical instrumentation. Those producer countries are usually not
equipped with HPLC, while they need to evaluate contamination at levels
approaching the legal limits enforced in many industrialized countries
such as the European Community. TLC is a viable alternative to HPLC.
Therefore, the project will take into consideration the determination
of aflatoxins by IAC and TLC in peanuts, pistachios, paprika, figs,
and corn. By using this approach a simple, reliable, not expensive method
(repeated use of IAC is aimed)will be available for developing countries.
In addition, the TLC methods currently available will be modified by
not using chlorinated solvents.
Progress:
The project, which was carried out between 2000 and 2003, aimed to obtain
a robust and simple validated method capable of quantifying aflatoxin
B1 in corn and peanuts at levels of 1-10 ng/g using thin-layer chromatography
(TLC). The project did not achieve its objective, but it did provide
some valuable lessons that the authors felt were important to share
with the IUPAC community. An article describing the background and results
of the collaborative study, as well as lessons learned and conclusions
has been published in Chem.
Int.
July-Aug 2004, p.7-9.
Project completed
Last update: 18 July 2004
<Project announcement published in
Chem.
Int. 22(3),
2000>