A Survey on Ochratoxin A Contamination in Cookies and Biscuits in Amol, Iran in ۲۰۱۳

Background & Objectives: The presence of fungal toxins in food has a negative impact on human health. The aim of this survey was to assess the level of Ochratoxin A in cookies and biscuits. Materials and Methods: The data were collected using ۴۴ samples of cookies and biscuits randomly chosen from some food warehouses in Amol, Iran in ۲۰۱۳. Levels of Ochratoxin A were measured by ELISA method in July and August. Data were analyzed using t-test (p<۰.۰۵) through SPSS ۱۸. Results: The highest contamination rates in cookies and biscuits were found to be ۱۰۰% and ۸۱.۸% in August, respectively. This means that the toxin in the contaminated samples exceeded the standard limits. Besides, there was no significant relationship between the months of collecting samples and contamination rate (p>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that Ochratoxin A rate in the examined products was beyond the legal limit. Regarding the consumption of cookies and biscuits among members of society, meeting the hygienic standards in order to control and prevent contamination of stored wheat with fungal toxins is of fundamental importance.

Keywords:

Biscuits , Cookies , ELISA , Ochratoxin A , اکراتوکسین A , الایزا , بیسکوئیت , کلوچه