Aflatoxins in sunflower seeds and unrefined sunflower oils from Singida, Tanzania.

A total of 61 samples comprising sunflower seeds (40) and unrefined sunflower oils (21) samples collected randomly from Singida, Tanzania were analysed by Reverse Phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). 15% (6/40) of the seed samples were contaminated with aflatoxin B1 ranging from limit of detection (LOD) to 218 ng g-1 with three of them exceeding the European Commission/European Union (EC/EU) and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)/Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) maximum limits of 2 ng g-1 for AFB1 in oilseeds. The levels of total aflatoxins (AFT) in seeds ranged from LOD to 243 ng g-1. Other aflatoxins, except AFG2, were also detected. For the unrefined sunflower oils, the levels of AFB1 ranged from LOD to 2.56 ng mL-1. About 80.9% (17/21) of the analysed oil samples contained AFB1 of which 17.65% (3/17) exceeded the EC/EU and TBS/TFDA maximum limits of 2 ng mL-1. Other aflatoxins were also detected in the oils. The measured levels indicate there is a need for food quality education among food processors.