Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the existence of total aflatoxins in local and imported beef canned meat consumed in Sohag city markets. Fifty canned beef meat samples (25 local and 25 imported) were collected from different trade market locality in Sohag city, upper Egypt. The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA was applied for the determination of total aflatoxins (TAFs). All the tested samples were positive for TAFs with variable types and concentrations. The average concentration of TAF in local beef canned samples showed 60% were above the permitted limit, whereas the imported beef canned foods revealed 70% of samples exceeded the tolerance limit, according to EFSA CONTAM Panel 2018 was published on the ‘Effect on public health of a possible increase of the maximum level for ‘aflatoxin total’ from 4 to 10 µg/kg in processed products which intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs’. These results raise concerns about the canned meat consumed in Egypt and the necessary for regular monitoring for TAFs contamination.

Key words: Total aflatoxins; Canned beef local; Imported meat products; EFSA; EU