Aflatoxins, patulin and ergosterol contents of dried figs in Turkey

Abstract

Dried figs of three different categories, palatable, fluorescent, and cull, were investigated for their contents of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), patulin, and ergosterol. Samples were obtained from four fig processing plants located in a major fig producing area in the Aegean Region in Turkey. Affinity column clean-up methods were employed for aflatoxins. All aflatoxins, patulin, and ergosterol were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Palatable figs contaminated with trace amounts of aflatoxins, patulin, and ergosterol, so they posed no risk for the consumer when national and/or international regulatory limits were considered. Fluorescent figs were contaminated with high 117.9-471.9 ppb) aflatoxin levels and cull figs with high patulin (39.3-151.6 ppb) and ergosterol (4.5-18 ppm) levels. The total aflatoxins content was significantly correlated with the patulin content (r2=0.813, p<0.002) and the ergosterol content (r2=0.920, p<0.002) only in fluorescent figs. However there was no significant correlation between patulin and ergosterol contents of fluorescent figs. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations betweeen the contents of any two of the three substances in cul figs. This is the first report on the presence of patulin its co-occurrence with aflatoxin in dried figs. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.