Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in raw cow milk, raw camel milk, and heat-processed milk in the North region of Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, 40 milk samples (10 raw cow milk, 10 camel milk, 10 pasteurised milk, and 10 ultra-high temperature milk) were randomly collected from Golestan Province (including two cities, Gorgan and Gonbad-e Kavus) from December 2021 to March 2022. Aflatoxin M1(AFM1) level was determined by the high-performance chromatography method. AFM1 was found in all samples. The mean concentration of AFM1 in raw cow milk, camel milk, pasteurised milk, and ultra-high temperature milk were 72.81 ± 2.18, 57.10 ± 1.86, 34.73 ± 1.34, and 49.36 ± 1.78 ng/kg, respectively. The highest level of AFM1 was found in raw cow milk (p < 0.05). According to the EU standard of AFM1 level, pasteurised milk is the safest type of milk in Golestan Province.