Occurrence and Dietary Risk Assessment of Chemical Contaminants in Pomegranate Molasses from Turkey using Deterministic and Monte Carlo Simulations

This study focused on the occurrence of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), patulin (PAT), and 240 pesticides, including five highly polar residues, in forty pomegranate molasses produced in a commercial processing facility in Turkey. The potential health risks associated with these contaminants were assessed using deterministic and probabilistic approaches based on data obtained from validated chromatographic analyses. All samples contained 5-HMF, with concentrations ranging from 5.32 to 50.6 mg/kg. PAT was detected in 60% of the samples, with concentrations between 36.9 and 244 µg/kg. Although no maximum level (ML) exists for molasses, reconstitution-based comparison revealed that PAT levels were below the European Union (EU) ML for fruit juices. Ten different pesticides were identified. While most residues complied with derived maximum residue levels (MRLs), seven samples exceeded these limits. Deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments showed that chronic exposure to PAT and pesticide residues through pomegranate molasses consumption resulted in hazard quotient and hazard index values well below one for both adults and children, indicating no appreciable long-term health risk. Nevertheless, the relatively high PAT concentrations observed in some samples, together with the detection of non-authorized pesticides, highlight the need for strengthened regulatory monitoring and strict enforcement of good agricultural and processing practices.