Survey of aflatoxin B1 in helva, a traditional Turkish food, by TLC

A total of 102 helva samples consisting of 34 plain helva, 34 helva containing cacao, and 34 helva containing pistachio nuts purchased from helva-factories and supermarkets in Adana of Turkey were analysed for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by thin-layer chromatography. The detection limit of AFB1 was 1 μg kg−1. Recovery experiments were carried out with spiked samples in the range 2–10 μg kg−1 of AFB1. No AFB1 was found in any plain helva and helva containing cacao samples. On the other hand, of 34 helva containing pistachio nuts AFB1 was determined in eight samples. AFB1 was found in excess of Turkish legal limit of 5 μg kg−1 in 4 of 102 helva samples. This paper reports the data of the first survey for the presence of AFB1 in helva in Turkey.