Occurence of Aflatoxin M1 Determined by ELISA in UHT (Sterilized) and Raw Milk Samples Produced in Turkey

Abstract

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi produced by certain strains of Aspergillus spp. They are known to have potent carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, genotoxic and immunusuppressive effects leading to toxicities in human and animals. In this study, it was aimed to determine presence of AFM1 levels in raw and UHT milk produced in the Kars vicinity of Turkey which is commercialized in big retail markets and to evaluate the toxins levels in milk samples with respect to the levels allowed by Turkish Food Codex. Of the total 90 milk samples analyzed, while 87.8 % (79) of the milk samples were found to exceed the limits allowed by Turkish Food Codex, only 12.2 % (11) of the total number of milk samples were in accordance with Turkish Food Codex limits. The levels of AFM1 were above the allowed limits in 84.4 % (38 out of 45) of UHT milk and 91.1 % (41 out of 45) of raw milk samples. The presence of unusually high rate of AFM1 levels in both raw and UHT milk samples implies that children and people in all age groups are under risk of being toxicated by AFM1. Therefore, it is important to take preventive actions toward reducing contamination of milk with AFM1.