Aflatoxins are toxic fungal secondary metabolites, and their presence in the food chain can cause adverse health effects, impair trade and pose a significant economic burden. This study analyzed aflatoxin contamination along a hot pepper postharvest value chain, estimated its dietary exposure and its associated potential health risk to consumers. A total of 25 composite samples were analyzed for aflatoxins using immunoaffinity column cleanup and HPLC. Aflatoxins were detected in 48 % of the tested samples. Aflatoxin G1 was recorded at highest frequencies and contamination levels followed by AFB1. Uppermost contaminations (μg/kg) were recorded from packed pepper powder (43.61 AFG1 and 22.18 AFB1) followed by unpacked pepper powder (30.53 AFG1 and 13.50 AFB1). Five (42 %) of the positive samples exceeded the EU regulatory limits for AFB1 (> 5 μg/kg). Aflatoxin detection frequencies, aflatoxin types and contamination levels generally increased up along the chain. The mean daily intake dose was found as 1.04 ng AFB1/kg bw/day and the cancer risk was estimated to be 0.0188, 0.0098 and 0.0286 cancer cases/year/100,000 population of hepatitis B surface antigen positive, negative and adult subpopulation, respectively. This cancer risk level can be considered “essentially negligible” as compared to 1 x 10-5 cancer risk level established by some agencies. However, as this study was dependent on a single food commodity, and aflatoxin contamination level varies from year to year and location to locations, the risk level of this study should not be taken as assurance for safe risk level. In addition, if aggregate dietary exposure is considered, possible health risk would be high. In conclusion, the increased trends of detection frequencies, aflatoxin types and contamination levels up along the value chain signified the possible occurrence of the toxin and their associated health risk as the food commodity approaches consumption. Because complete elimination of aflatoxin is almost unachievable once contamination has happened, preventative management efforts should target the value chain.
