Susceptibility of Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera) to aflatoxin contamination based on liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionisation-triple quadrupole tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS)


Citation

Almaghrabi, M. A. and Morgan, M. R. A. (2023) Susceptibility of Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera) to aflatoxin contamination based on liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionisation-triple quadrupole tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). International Food Research Journal (Malaysia), 30. pp. 324-333. ISSN 2231 7546

Abstract

Dates are a staple food across the world because of their religious, cultural, and nutritional importance. There are many different varieties of dates, one of which is the Ajwa variety. There have been no reports on the contamination of Ajwa dates by aflatoxins (AFs). Therefore, the present work was conducted to investigate the incidence of AFs in Ajwa dates for the first time. Samples (100) were analysed for AFs using liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionisation-triple quadrupole tandem-mass spectrometry (LCESI-MS/MS). The method was validated and regarded as reliable due to good linearity (R2 > 0.99), satisfactory recovery (61.4 - 105.7%), precision (RSDs ≤ 12.29%), and sensitivity (LOD in the range of 0.042 - 0.013 μg/kg; LOQ in the range of 0.125 - 0.038 μg/kg). Surprisingly, no aflatoxins were detected, which might indicate that this popular type of date is not likely to pose potential health risks, though further research is required.


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Abstract

Dates are a staple food across the world because of their religious, cultural, and nutritional importance. There are many different varieties of dates, one of which is the Ajwa variety. There have been no reports on the contamination of Ajwa dates by aflatoxins (AFs). Therefore, the present work was conducted to investigate the incidence of AFs in Ajwa dates for the first time. Samples (100) were analysed for AFs using liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionisation-triple quadrupole tandem-mass spectrometry (LCESI-MS/MS). The method was validated and regarded as reliable due to good linearity (R2 > 0.99), satisfactory recovery (61.4 - 105.7%), precision (RSDs ≤ 12.29%), and sensitivity (LOD in the range of 0.042 - 0.013 μg/kg; LOQ in the range of 0.125 - 0.038 μg/kg). Surprisingly, no aflatoxins were detected, which might indicate that this popular type of date is not likely to pose potential health risks, though further research is required.

Additional Metadata

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Item Type: Article
AGROVOC Term: aflatoxins
AGROVOC Term: dates
AGROVOC Term: Phoenix dactylifera
AGROVOC Term: experimentation
AGROVOC Term: sampling
AGROVOC Term: analysis
AGROVOC Term: laboratories
AGROVOC Term: food safety
AGROVOC Term: quality control
Geographical Term: Saudi Arabia
Depositing User: Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited: 19 May 2025 08:14
Last Modified: 19 May 2025 08:14
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/541

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