Aflatoxin contamination in hazelnut paste from Turkey and estimated health risk
What it found
All 202 hazelnut paste samples tested contained aflatoxins, but estimated exposure for Turkish adults was very low.
The authors say this level poses no toxicological risk.
What they found
Studies in people
Low daily exposure estimates
For Turkish adults, estimated daily intake of aflatoxin B1 was between 0.0106 and 0.0107 nanograms per kilogram of body weight. Total aflatoxin intake was estimated at 0.0250 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day.
Liver cancer risk estimate
The estimated risk of liver cancer linked to these aflatoxin levels was 0.00023 cases per 100,000 people each year.
Margin of exposure results
Safety margin calculations for average and high-end exposures were both above 10,000. The authors say values this high point to no potential health concern for Turkish adults.
Other findings
Aflatoxins found in all samples
Every one of the 202 hazelnut paste samples contained aflatoxins. Levels ranged from 0.17 to 12.96 micrograms per kilogram.
Few samples over legal limits
Only four samples, about 1.98 percent of the total, had aflatoxin levels above legal limits.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that the Turkish population does not face a toxicological risk from eating foods containing hazelnut paste.
- Their margin of exposure calculations suggest no potential health concern for Turkish adults.
How it was done
Aflatoxins are natural toxins that can contaminate foods like hazelnuts. The researchers wanted to measure how much of these toxins were present in hazelnut paste sold in Turkey and estimate the health risk for people eating it.
Researchers collected 202 hazelnut paste samples from various factories near the Black Sea coast in Turkey. They measured levels of different aflatoxins in each sample. They then used those measurements to estimate daily exposure and liver cancer risk for Turkish adults aged 15 and older.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These exposure numbers are estimates based on lab tests, not direct measurements of what people actually ate or absorbed.
- This work looked only at adults in Turkey, so it cannot show risks for children or people in other countries.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Giresun University, Turkey
The paper
- Title
- Presence of aflatoxins in hazelnut paste in Turkey and a risk assessment study
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Şen L, Civil O (2022). Presence of aflatoxins in hazelnut paste in Turkey and a risk assessment study. Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. doi:10.1080/19440049.2022.2081367PubMed 35652906DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error