Aflatoxin M1 contamination in grated parmesan cheese marketed in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of AFM 1 contamination in the samples of grated parmesan ch eese marketed in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janei ro - Brazil. Thirty samples representing 10 major b rands marketed in the region were analyzed by High Perfor mance Liquid Chromatography with fluorescence detec tion (HPLC-FLD) after purification with immunoaffinity cThe method showed recovery values within the range of 70-90%, with RSD lower than 15% and limits of de tection and quantification below the maximum level allowed by the European Commission for the presence of AFM 1 in cheeses. The mycotoxin was identified in 18 (60% ) of the grated cheese samples tested. The highest value cor responded to 0.69 ± 0.02 μg/kg and the mean for all the analyzed samples was 0.16 μg/kg. All the samples were lower than the limit est ablished by the Brazilian legislation (2.5 μg/kg) for AFM 1 in cheeses in general. However, eight samples (26. 7%) presented AFM 1 levels above the tolerance limit of 0.25 μg/kg adopted by the European Commission. These results i ndicated that AFM 1 levels in the grated cheese consumed in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil w ere relatively high and it could provide a potentia l hazard for the public health.