JFP
This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of 16 well recognized and emerging mycotoxins in black and white sesame seed samples being commercialized in Thailand, and to evaluate health risk assessment in consumers. Samples were extracted and cleaned up by a modified QuEChERS based procedure. Multi-mycotoxins in sesame seed samples were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Additionally, the risk of mycotoxin exposure via dietary intake of sesame was evaluated using hazard quotient, margin of exposure (MOE) and quantitative liver cancer risk approaches established by EFSA and FAO/WHO, respectively. The results show that 21.5 % of total samples (n = 200) were contaminated with mycotoxins. 19.5 % of total samples (n = 200) were contaminated with a single mycotoxin and 2 % of total samples were contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. 9 % of total samples were contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs), however only one black and one white sesame seed sample was above the regulatory limits of the European Union (2 µg / kg). The MOE values derived from consumption of black and white sesame were generally below 10,000 especially in the heavily consuming group. The number of liver cancer cases over a life time associated with AFB 1 exposure based on upper bound values at high level of black and white sesame consumption (97.5th percentile) is estimated to be more than 1 liver cancer case per million persons. Therefore, a potential risk to consumer health exists through the dietary consumption of black and white sesame and subsequent exposure to AFB 1 . However, further evaluation using larger sample sizes is necessary for more accurate calculation. In addition, continuous monitoring of mycotoxin contamination of sesame with risk assessment is recommended.
FoodWorld 