Development of an HPLC-Based Method for the Detection of Aflatoxins in Pu-erh Tea

Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi. The objective of this study was to develop an HPLC method to detect the presence of aflatoxins in Pu-erh tea. The developed method had recovery rates of 81.02–90.69%. The results revealed that Pu-erh teas from Yunnan, China, contained aflatoxins, especially AFB1 (8.333 μg/kg in raw and 20.149 μg/kg in ripe tea). All tea samples had aflatoxin levels below the national maximum permissible limits; however, the tea samples had higher aflatoxin levels than those allowed in the European Union, the USA, and Japan. The presence of aflatoxins in Pu-erh tea hinders its international marketability.