Naturally occurring aflatoxin M1 in raw bulk milk from farm cooling tanks in Argentina

• Published in: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment, 2010-03, Vol.27 (3), p.373-379
• Main Authors: Alonso, V.A., Monge, M.P., Larriestra, A., Dalcero, A.M., Cavaglieri, L.R., Chiacchiera, S.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aflatoxins; Arachis hypogaea; Biological and medical sciences; chromatography-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS); clean-up-affinity columns; Food industries; Food toxicology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; milk; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; mycotoxins
• ISSN: 1944-0049; 1944-0057
• DOI: 10.1080/19440040903403362

The aim was to carry out a survey of aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1 ) in raw whole milk from bulk tanks. The sample collection was performed in farms located in one the most important milk-production zones in the centre of Argentina. A total of 94 samples of milk from 47 dairy farms were analysed. AFM 1 analysis involved the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with prior purification of the extracts using immunoaffinity columns. AFM 1 incidence in raw milk was high as 63.8% and levels were between not detected to 0.07 µg l −1 . Several contaminated samples (39%) were over the European Commission limit for infant milk (0.025 µg l −1 ), although none of samples were above Argentine legislation. Estimates of AFM 1 intake were assessed for different age populations. The average AFM 1 estimated daily intakes were 1.6, 0.5, 0.17 ng kg −1 body weight day −1 for 4-year-old babies, young children, and adults, respectively. All tested farms used pastures and silages at similar composition. Even though some farms (13) employed high-risk supplementary feeds, such as peanut pod and/or cotton seed, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups. Information from AFM 1 levels in milk in Argentina is limited. A systematic AFM 1 monitoring programme must be performed by means of accurate and reliable analytical techniques as a strategy for protecting milk consumers.