Microbiology, Heavy Metal and Aflotoxin Analysis in Food Supplements

What Are The Tests Conducted On Food Supplements?

Within the scope of "Turkish Food Codex Supplementary Foods Communiqué" "Supplementary Foods" In order to supplement normal nutrition, vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, fatty acids, amino acids or other nutritional or physiological effects on plants and products of animal origin, bioactive substances and similar substances prepared alone or in the form of capsules, tablets, lozenges, disposable powder packs, liquid ampoules, dropper bottles and other similar liquid or powder forms of concentrates or extracts of similar substances.

Today, consumption of supplementary foods has increased. Food supplements produced and put on the market in accordance with the relevant regulation must pass parameters such as microbiology, heavy metal and toxicological tests.

- Microbiological Tests

Non-sterile food supplements; In herbal medicines, it may be contaminated with microorganisms at many stages such as harvest, processing, packaging, storage and transportation. Causes of contamination in general;

• Plant fertilizer
• Contaminated irrigation water
• Worker hygiene and sanitation errors

Within the scope of the tests, the total number of aerobic bacteria, total yeast and mold count, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium counts.

- Heavy Metal Test

In food supplements; Heavy metals such as Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are the most analyzed contaminants.

Heavy metals in food supplements can have serious consequences for human health.

- Aflotoxin Analysis

Aflatoxins are a group of toxic secondary metabolites that are ubiquitous in nature and have adverse effects on human health, mainly produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius.

Aflotoxin analysis is also carried out in food supplements:

Total Aflatoxin, Aflatoxin B1

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