Abstract
In the present study, the presence of aflatoxin in the chilli and sumac samples was investigated, and in-laboratory validation of the applied method was performed. Spice samples were provided from spice shops in Malatya province. Analyzes were carried out in the ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC-FD) system with fluorescence detector using method no. 999.07 of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). In chili samples, Aflatoxin B1 and Total Aflatoxin ranged from 0.20 to 79.37 µg/kg and 0.22 to 93.05 µg/kg, respectively. In three sumac samples, aflatoxin wasn't detected, while Aflatoxin B1 and Total Aflatoxin were measured as 8.03 and 8.68 µg/kg in one sumac sample, respectively. It was determined that 15 of the examined spice samples contain aflatoxin at a level exceeding the legal limits according to the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on contaminants. As a result of the analytical studies, the linear measurement range of the aflatoxin standard in the UFLC-FD system was determined as 1.25 – 2.5 µg/kg, the LOD values for Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 were 0.036, 0.030, 0.021, and 0.024 µg/kg, and the LOQ values were 0.120, 0.100, 0.070, and 0.080 µg/kg, respectively.