Presence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and infant milk products in Tehran, Iran

Allatoxins are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic compounds. The purpose of this survey was to determine natural occurrence and level of AFM(1) in pasteurized liquid milk, infant formula and milk-based cereal weaning food consumed in Tehran, Iran. A total of 328 branded milk products and liquid milk samples were collected and investigated by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The samples of pasteurized liquid milk (n = 128), infant formula (n = 120) and milk-based cereal weaning food (17 = 80) showed that the incidence of contamination with AFM, is 96.3%, the presence of AFM(1) in each group was 72.2 +/- 23.5, 7.3 +/- 3.9 and 16.8 +/- 12.5 ng/kg, ranging between 31-113, 1-14 and 3-35 ng/kg, respectively. In general, the amount of AFM(1) in 100 (78%) of liquid milk samples and 24 (33%) of milk-based weaning food was higher than the maximum tolerance limit accepted by European Union, but in all of the infant formula samples was lower (European Communities and Codex Alimentarius has prescribed a limit of 50 ng/kg for AFM(1) in milk and 25 ng/kg in infant milk products). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.