Aflatoxin M₁ in raw cow and buffalo milk in Shush city of Iran

Abstract

Aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) contamination is evaluated in 120 samples of raw milk from cow and buffalo (60 each), collected randomly in the Shush (southwest Iran). Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to analyse AFM₁ in the samples. AFM₁ was detected in 44 (69%) raw cow milk samples with a mean of 55 ng/l at a range of 3.6–419 ng/l) and in 46 (79%) raw buffalo milk samples with a mean of 116 ng/l at a range of 13–423 ng/l. In all samples, the AFM₁ concentration was lower than the Iranian national standard and FDA limit of 500 ng/l. According to the European Union and Codex Alimentarius Commission, 18 (28%) and 32 (52%) of cow and buffalo raw milk samples are above the 50 ng/l limit, respectively. Results showed that AFM₁ contamination of raw milk could pose a problem for public health, since all age groups, including infants and children, consume this product.

Keywords:

• Aflatoxin M₁
• raw milk
• cow
• buffalo
• ELISA
• Iran