Occurrence of aflatoxin M₁in randomly selected North African milk and cheese samples

Abstract

Forty-nine samples of raw cow's milk and 20 samples of fresh white soft cheese were collected directly from 20 local dairy factories in the north-west of Libya and analysed for the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). The samples were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique for toxin detection and quantification. Thirty-five of the 49 milk samples (71.4%) showed AFM1 levels between 0.03 and 3.13 ng ml(-1) milk. Multiple analyses of five milk samples free of AFM1 artificially contaminated with concentrations of AFM1 at 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1.0 and 3.0 ng ml(-1) showed average recoveries of 66.85, 72.41, 83.29, 97.94 and 98.25%, with coefficients of variations of 3.77, 4.11, 1.57, 1.29 and 0.54%, respectively. Fifteen of 20 white soft cheese samples (75.0%) showed the presence of AFM1 in concentrations between 0. 11 and 0.52 ng g(-1) of cheese. Multiple assays of five cheese samples free of AFM1 spiked with different concentration of AFM1 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 ng g(-1)) showed average recoveries of 63.23, 78.14,83.29 and 88.68%, with coefficients of variation of 1.53, 9.90, 4.87 and 3.79%, respectively. The concentrations of AFM1 were lower in the cheese products than in the raw milk samples.

Determination of aflatoxin M1 levels in goat milk consumed in Kilis province

“…In another study of 111 raw milk samples, 85 (76.6%) were found contamined with AFM 1 at concentration between 0.15 and 0.28 µg/l (16). Elgerbi et al (10) found AFM 1 in 71.4% of the milk samples (35 of the 49 samples) with contaminated levels between 0.03 and 3.13 ng/ml in North African. In Lucknow, India (26), a total of 87 infant milk products and liquid milk samples were analysed, 76 (87.3%) samples were found to be contaminated with AFM 1 at 28-1012 ng/kg with a mean of 299 ng/kg.…”

Aflatoxinas en Alimentos Y Exposición Dietaria Como Factor De Riesgo Para El Carcinoma Hepatocelular

“…Una investigación mostró en leche cruda y queso fresco de Libia, al norte de África, altos niveles de AFM1 en un rango entre 0,030-3,13 µg/L; revelando que las diferencias entre países están dadas por diversas variables como clima, suelo, control de plagas, control poscosecha y legislación vigente que establezca e inspeccione estos casos (41).…”

Aflatoxin Contamination in Foods and Feeds: A Special Focus on Africa

“…In spite of this anticipated loss, AFM 1 has been found in African dairy products at unacceptable levels. High prevalence (75%) of AFM 1 with all positive samples having levels exceeding the legislated limit of 0.05 µg/L was seen in Libyan cheese (Elgerbi et al (2004). Amer and Ibrahim (2010) found AFM 1 in 50/150 Egyptian cheese samples at levels between 0.051 to 0.182 µg/L and all the contaminated samples had levels beyond the EU regulated limit.…”