Mycotoxin contamination in foods and foodstuffs in Japan

Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1 were examined in commercial food and foodstuffs including nuts, cereals, beans spices and dairy products in Tokyo, Japan. Aflatoxins were determined and confirmed by HPTLC or HPLC after purification with Florisil column chromatography. The limit of quantification was 0.1μg/kg for each aflatoxin. Aflatoxins were found in nuts (pistachio nut, peanut), cereals (coix seed, corn, buckwheat, etc.), crude sugar, beans (beans for bean paste), spices (nutmeg, paprika, red pepper, etc.), and dairy product. The highest incidence of aflatoxin contamination was found in nutmeg, and highest level of aflatoxin B1 was found in pistachio nut. More than 10μg/kg of aflatoxin B1 were sometimes found in imported nuts, cereals, beans and spices. These samples were eliminated on the order of the government.