Aflatoxin contamination in dried fruits and nuts in Bangladesh: Occurrence, dietary exposure, and health risk assessment

Background Dried fruits and nuts are widely consumed for their desirable sensory qualities and high nutritional value, providing essential nutrients such as proteins, healthy fatty acids, potassium, dietary fiber, and bioactive compounds. However, they are highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, particularly in humid tropical regions like Bangladesh. This study investigated toxigenic fungal contamination and quantified aflatoxin (B 1 , B 2 , G 1 , and G 2 ) levels in dried fruits and nuts collected from markets in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Results Mean fungal counts were 84.5 ± 3.20 CFU/g, 72.8 ± 3.81 CFU/g, and 58.0 ± 4.24 CFU/g in nuts, raisins, and dates, respectively. The identified genera included Aspergillus , Penicillium , Rhizopus , and Fusarium , with Aspergillus being predominant (95.23%). Aflatoxins were present in 57.14% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.22 to 81.97 μg/kg. Mean aflatoxin levels were 4.15 ± 0.32 μg/kg in dates, 44.38 ± 34.19 μg/kg in raisins, and 3.27 ± 1.79 μg/kg in nuts, with aflatoxin B 1 being dominant. Over one‐third of samples exceeded the European Commission's threshold of 4 μg/kg. Dietary exposure ranged from 1.50 to 27.31 ng/kg‐bw/day, with liver cancer risk greatest among Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive individuals. Conclusion The high occurrence of carcinogenic aflatoxins in dried fruits and nuts poses a significant public health concern, underscoring the urgent need for improved pre‐ and post‐harvest practices, regular surveillance, and stricter regulatory measures to ensure food safety and protect consumers.