Level of aflatoxins in industrially brewed local and imported beers collected from Ethiopia market

Abstract

Eighteen brands; 15 domestic and 3 imported beers were collected from different market across ten sub cities of Addis Ababa. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1 and G2 were determined by immuno-affinity column cleanup and reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to food quality and safety issues of the beer industries were also assessed. The result showed, out of twelve alcoholic domestic beer brands eleven were positive with a range of total aflatoxin between 1.23 and 12.47 μg/l and one brand was less than Limit of Detection. When comparing this research finding with other studies conducted in different countries, high aflatoxin level was detected in Ethiopian alcoholic beer. Conversely, aflatoxin was not detected in any of non-alcoholic domestic beer brands. Aflatoxin was detected but not quantified in all the three imported beer bands. On the other hand, knowledge about mycotoxin specifically aflatoxin in the beer factories was not satisfactory. In terms of their practice, only 35% of breweries are working under HACCP and most of breweries do not determines level of aflatoxin in incoming raw materials and final products in their laboratories. Fortunately, majority of the alcoholic domestic beer brands were less than 4 μg/l, which is the maximum allowable limit set by EU standard for total aflatoxins. However, two brands were found to be greater than 4 μg/l and unsafe for consumption and require action. Thus, government policymakers should incorporate aflatoxin legislation as mandatory standard and enforce to regulate in Ethiopian beers filling up the existing critical gap.