MYCOLOGICAL QUALITY OF IMPORTED FROZEN LIVER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Abstract

A total of 100 samples of imported frozen liver were randomly collected from different markets at El-Gharbiah governorate, Egypt.The samples were examined for detection of molds and determination of aflatoxins produced by their aflatoxigenic strains. The results showed that 33 % of the samples were contaminated with different mold species and the average mold count (/g)was 3.8 × 104± 8.2× 103/g. Genus Aspergilluswasthe predominant species detected in the positive samples (54.55 %) followed by Genus Penicillium(51.52%). The positive samples were examined for extraction and estimation of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 using HPLC. The results indicated that aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 were detected in 24.2, 21.2, 18.2 and 15.1% of such liver samples, respectively. These results showed that imported frozen liver can represent a potential source of variousmold species and their toxinsconstituting, at times, a public health hazard.