Determination of Aflatoxin in the Imported Rice in Zahedan, South-East of Iran, 2011

Background: rice is common foodstuffs in iran. aflatoxin contamination of rice can be hazardous human health and causes economic problems. objectives: determination of aflatoxin levels was investigated on the imported rice which is consumed as the main food in this area. materials and methods: two hundred samples of imported rice consisting; yellow (100) and white (100) rice were selected randomly. these samples were assessed for aspergillus infection and the aflatoxins b, g was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (hplc) method. results: the results showed, 33% and 47% of yellow and white rice samples had contaminated 0.34 and 0.58 part per billion (ppb) with aflatoxin b1 respectively. it was observed 13% and 21% following samples had also contaminated 0.06 and 0.08 ppb aflatoxin b2 respectively. the levels of g1 and g2 aflatoxins were impossible to identify in these samples. conclusions: according to proposed standards, none of the imported rice sample had not contaminated more than the maximum allowable concentrations of aflatoxin.