Aflatoxin and Genetically Modified Organisms Analysis in Turkish Corn

Abstract

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants, animals or microorganisms that have been altered using genetic insertion or deletion via technology (also called genetic engineering or GE). Corn is one of the main inputs of both food and feed production. Also it is a major commodity of which many transgenic varieties are commercially available. In this study, the aflatoxin and GMO analyses of corn were made in two different years (2013 and 2014). Corn samples were collected between August and October in 2013 and 2014 around Turkey from non-neighboring fields representing each 10 thousand tons production and blending. After the analyses, which were performed by using LC-MS/MS technique, 38 of 538 corn samples (7.06%) were found to contain aflatoxin in 2013. 17 of these were collected from the first harvest, 21 were from the second harvest period. Aflatoxin limits were exceeded in samples from only 2 regions in 2014. This study also reports results of GMO screening tests with 0.05% detection limit in two marketing years. 35D promoter, NOS terminator and FMV promoter are sought with the tests. None of the samples shows positive results, that is, samples do not contain GMO.