Ability of dairy strains of lactic acid bacteria to bind aflatoxin M1 in a food model

Aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) is a highly toxic compound found in milk. Its occurrence poses a threat to the health of consumers, especially young children, and leads to economic losses due to contaminated milk. The problem is global but more severe in developing countries. Consequently, there is a great demand for novel strategies to prevent the contamination and adverse effects of AFM(1). To develop a safe and practical decontamination method, a preliminary study was carried out with specific lactic acid bacteria strains that were tested for their ability to remove AFM(1), from liquid media. All strains, whether viable or heat-killed, could reduce the AFM(1) content of a liquid medium. Two most effective strains were also tested using contaminated skim and full cream milk. The results indicate that specific lactic acid bacteria used in dairy products can offer novel means of decontaminating aflatoxin M-1 from milk.