en تخصصي Special Original article Original article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="line-height:normal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Background</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Today, mycotoxins are considered critical contaminants in foodstuffs produced by fungi, highlighting the importance of food safety to human health. The toxigenic fungi invasion and mycotoxin production </span>are highly variable and depend on climate, plant, and agronomic practices.<span lang="EN-GB"> Among these, Aflatoxins (AFs) are considered the most potent toxins. This study investigated the fungi presence and AFB</span>₁<span lang="EN-GB"> contamination in corn and wheat grown in Albania during the 2022 harvesting year.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Methods</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">: Wheat samples were collected during the summer, while corn during the autumn, and further analyzed. </span><span lang="DE">Mycological contamination assessment applied the Verband Deutscher Land&euml;irtschaftlicher Untersuchungs ̶ und Forschungsanstalten (VDLUFA) procedures. </span><span lang="EN-GB">The AFB</span>₁ levels were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The MATLAB R2016b software was applied to perform statistical analysis. The Estimated Daily Intake on AFB₁ was calculated to evaluate human exposure.</span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Results</b>: The genera <i>Alternaria</i>, <i>Aspergillus</i>, <i>Cladosporium, Fusarium</i>, and<i> Penicillium</i> were isolated, with higher rates of contamination in corn and the highest frequency<i> Penicillium</i> genus (77.89%). The Kor&ccedil;a region presented a higher fungal load, 10⁴ Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g in corn. The AFB₁ incidence (88.23%) in corn, was significantly higher than in wheat (4.91%). Additionally, the maximum level in corn was found 69.120 &mu;g/kg, while in wheat, only 0.402 &mu;g/kg. None of the wheat samples, in contrast to the 41.18% of corn samples, exceeded the threshold when referring to the respective Maximum Residue Levels.</span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Conclusions</b>: Our observation indicates a higher rate of AFB₁ contamination in corn than in wheat. The high concentration levels and contamination incidence in corn require targeted interventions to reduce the AFB₁ amounts. Strengthened regulation based on scientific evidence can reduce contamination outbreaks, economic implications, and potential benefits, such as increased consumer trust. Our study indicates that the exposure to AFB₁ originates from corn consumption among the adult population<span lang="EN-GB">.</span></span><br> <br> <span style="line-height:107%"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="line-height:107%">DOI:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="line-height:107%"> 10.18502/jfqhc.11.1.14996</span></span></span></span></span></div> Food Safety, Zea Mays, Triticum, Aflatoxin B1, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay 59 68 http://jfqhc.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1680-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 L. Mato 0009-0005-0821-4358 No University of Tirana, Natural Sciences Faculty, Chemistry Department, Blvd. Zog 1, Tirana, 1,016, Albania Z. Damani No Medicine University of Tirana, Medical & Technical Sciences Faculty, Diagnostics and Rehabilitation Department, QSU “Nënë Tereza"; 'Kongresi i Manastirit' str., Tirana, Albania J. Spahiu No Food and Veterinary Agency, Zona Industriale, Fushë Kosovë, 1,000 Pristine, Kosovo E. Halimi No University of Tirana, Natural Sciences Museum, ‘Petro Nini Luarasi’ str., Tirana, Albania B. Seiti No University of Tirana, Natural Sciences Faculty, Chemistry Department, Blvd. Zog 1, Tirana, 1,016, Albania D. Topi dritan.topi@unitir.edu.al 0000-0001-7852-5374 Yes University of Tirana, Natural Sciences Faculty, Chemistry Department, Blvd. Zog 1, Tirana, 1,016, Albania