Abstract

As milk provides both micro- and macronutrients, it is an important component in the diet. However, the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the feed of dairy cattle results in contamination of milk and dairy products with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a toxic metabolite of the carcinogenic mycotoxin. With the aim to determine AFM1 concentrations in milk and milk products consumed in Bangladesh, in total, 145 samples were collected in four divisional regions (Sylhet, Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rajshahi). The samples comprised these categories: raw milk (n = 105), pasteurized milk (n = 15), ultra-high temperature (UHT)-treated milk (n = 15), fermented milk products such as yogurt (n = 5), and milk powder (n = 5). AFM1 levels in these samples were determined through competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, AFM1 was present in 78.6% of milk and milk products in the range of 5.0 to 198.7 ng/L. AFM1 was detected in 71.4% of raw milk (mean 41.1, range 5.0–198.7 ng/L), and in all pasteurized milk (mean 106, range 17.2–187.7 ng/L) and UHT milk (mean 73, range 12.2–146.9 ng/L) samples. Lower AFM1 levels were found in yogurt (mean 16.9, range 8.3–41.1 ng/L) and milk powder samples (mean 6.6, range 5.9–7.0 ng/L). About one-third of the raw, pasteurized, and UHT milk samples exceeded the EU regulatory limit (50 ng/L) for AFM1 in milk, while AFM1 levels in yogurt and milk powder samples were well below this limit. Regarding regions, lower AFM1 contamination was observed in Chittagong (mean 6.6, max 10.6 ng/L), compared to Sylhet (mean 53.7, max 198.7 ng/L), Dhaka (mean 37.8, max 97.2 ng/L), and Rajshahi (mean 34.8, max 131.4 ng/L). Yet, no significant difference was observed in AFM1 levels between summer and winter season. In conclusion, the observed frequency and levels of aflatoxin contamination raise concern and must encourage further monitoring of AFM1 in milk and milk products in Bangladesh.

Highlights

  • Introduction distributed under the terms andMilk is an important food as it provides micro- and macronutrients essential for the growth and maintenance of human health [1]

  • Due to its strong toxicity in many species, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an undesirable substance in animal feed [7], and its levels in feed for dairy cattle are restricted in several countries in order to minimize carry-over and thereby human aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) exposure with milk [1,8]

  • For developing countries, where regulation on food and feed contaminants is not in place or not enforced by regular surveillance, monitoring of AFM1 occurrence in milk is recommended, as it is easy to perform and an indicator for dairy feed contamination

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Summary

Introduction

Introduction distributed under the terms andMilk is an important food as it provides micro- and macronutrients essential for the growth and maintenance of human health [1]. As milk and milk products are consumed by all age groups, including young children, dairy milk must be free of toxic compounds, including mycotoxins [2]. (AFM1 ), a metabolite of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ), a potent human carcinogen [3]. AFM1 occurs in the milk of dairy cattle ingesting feed contaminated with AFB1 , which is partly converted to this hydroxylated metabolite and excreted in milk. The fraction of AFB1 in feed that is transferred to milk as AFM1 (carry-over) ranges between 0.6% and. Due to its strong toxicity in many species, AFB1 is an undesirable substance in animal feed [7], and its levels in feed for dairy cattle are restricted in several countries in order to minimize carry-over and thereby human AFM1 exposure with milk [1,8]

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