Aflatoxins in Turkish hazelnut paste and adult risk
What it found
All 202 hazelnut paste samples from Turkey contained aflatoxins, and four exceeded legal limits.
For Turkish adults, the estimated exposure was low and the authors say it is not a health concern.
What they found
Studies in people
Adult exposure estimate
For Turkish adults aged 15 and over, average daily intake from hazelnut paste was estimated at 0.0106 to 0.0107 ng per kg body weight for aflatoxin B1, and 0.0250 ng per kg body weight for total aflatoxins.
Risk measure
The margin of exposure for average and high (95th percentile) aflatoxin B1 intake was above 10,000. The authors say this indicates no potential health concern for Turkish adults.
Liver cancer risk
The estimated liver cancer risk for the Turkish population was 0.00023 cases per 100,000 people per year.
Other findings
Aflatoxins in samples
All 202 hazelnut paste samples contained aflatoxins, at levels from 0.17 to 12.96 µg kg-1. Four samples, or 1.98%, were above legal limits.
What the authors conclude
“The study indicates that Turkish population is not under this toxicological risk when consuming hazelnut paste containing food products.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the Turkish population is not under this toxicological risk when consuming hazelnut paste containing food products.
How it was done
They tested 202 hazelnut paste samples from processing plants in Turkey's Black Sea Region for aflatoxins. They then estimated how much aflatoxin adults in Turkey might take in from hazelnut paste and assessed the possible liver cancer risk.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study looked at aflatoxin levels in hazelnut paste and estimated exposure for the Turkish population. It cannot show whether any individual person would develop health problems from eating these products.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error