Determination of aflatoxins in walnut sujuk and Turkish delight by HPLC-FLD method

This study aims to assess the risk of aflatoxins (AFs) in traditional confectionery products (walnut sujuk and Turkish delight) of Turkey. A high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method was used for the determination of AFs. Evaluation of the method showed good selectivity, linearity, recovery and precision. The limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.106 to 0.374 μg kg−1. The expanded measurement uncertainty was less than 40% for all target analytes. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of AFs in 112 traditional confectionery products containing nuts (hazelnuts and walnuts). AFs were detected in 43.8% of walnuts and 60.9% of hazelnuts used as ingredients in walnut sujuk and Turkish delight and at levels ranging from 0.58 to 15.2 μg kg−1 and 0.43-63.4 μg kg−1, respectively. This means that AFs levels in walnut sujuk and Turkish delight were up to levels of 6.1 and 9.5 μg kg−1, respectively. Six walnut samples and twenty-one hazelnut samples were above the EU maximum limits (MLs) of 2 and 5 μg kg−1 for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), respectively.