Aflatoxin M1 Assay in Milk Samples Collected from Zanjan Area's Conventional Dairy Farms throughout the Year

There is a global concern about presence of mycotoxins in milk and dairy products and governmental quality control centers continuously qualify and monitor these products, and milk producers might charge bill if their products are contaminated with aflatoxins. The current project was conducted to qualify and monitor aflatoxin M1 in milk supplied to milk-collecting- stations in Zanjan’s area during all seasons of the year.

Milk samples were randomly collected a day in each season. Milk sample tubes were centrifuged, and top layer of fat was harvested, and aflatoxin M1 of milk was determined by ELISA method.

All samples had contamination with aflatoxin M1; however, contamination was lower than that of global standard (500 ng/L). 18.5 percent of the samples had contamination with aflatoxin M1 based on European limits (50 ng/L), with 0 percent in spring and 35.3 percent in winter. The mean concentration of aflatoxin M1 in samples was 44ng/L (16 to 129) and its content was 25, 52, 34, and 64 ng/L in spring, summer, fall, and winter respectively.

Although aflatoxin M1 concentration of collected milk samples was lower than the limit, but continuous qualifying and monitoring of milk supplied to dairy factories or traditional market must be done and producers should try to keep a low level of toxins in their products.