Abstract
Eleven food samples and four coffee samples of several kinds and trade marks were collected from different super-markets in Al-Jafara region, Libya and analysed for the presence of ochratoxin A, using immune affinity column clean up (Ochra test column) and HPLC. The samples were of different cereal products and coffee consumed regularly and normally. The results indicated that eight food samples (72.72%) were contaminated by ochratoxin A with the lowest concentration (0.59µg/kg) in couscous (national production) and the highest concentration (15.50µg/kg) in couscous (imported). Four food samples (36.36%) contained ochratoxin A above the Libyan and European specifications which allow 3µg/kg. Of the coffee samples, ochratoxin A was found in 2 samples of Arabic coffee (50%) and the highest concentration was present in Arabic coffee (locally processed) with concentration reaching 70.16 µg/kg which is highly above the Libyan and Europe Union regulations which allow 5 µg/kg for Arabic coffee. The other food samples which showed presence of ochratoxin A had concentrations of 10.70, 1.49 and 1.13 µg/kg for macaroni (national production), 3.25 µg/kg for rice (imported), 4.80 µg/kg for wheat flour (National production), 1.89 µg/kg for wheat flour (imported), 3.32 µg/kg for Arabic coffee and 15.50 µg/kg for couscous (imported). The other three samples of food (27.27%) which consisted of one imported macaroni sample, two samples of imported rice and two samples of instant coffee (50%) showed absence of ochratoxin A at the detection limit below 0.02 µg/kg. Presence of ochratoxin A in foods considered a serious problem for human health where this toxin is recognized as possible carcinogenic to both human and animal health by International Agency for Research on Cancer.