Rice (Oryza sativa Linn) is one of the basic diets in the north of Iran. The aim of present study was to detect total
aflatoxin (AFT) in domestic and imported rice in Amol (in the north of Iran) and to evaluate the effect of
different cooking methods on the levels of the toxin. For this purpose, 42 rice samples were collected from
retail stores. The raw samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for
toxin assessment and then submitted to two different cooking methods including traditional local method and
in rice cooker. After treatment, AFT was determined. Results show that the average concentration of AFT in
domestic and imported samples was 1.08 + 0.02 and 1.89 + 0.87 ppb, respectively, which is lower than
national and European Union standards. The highest AFT reduction (24.8%) was observed when rice samples
were cooked by rice cooker but the difference with local method was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).