Detection of Aflatoxin M1 contamination in milk and infant milk products from Indian markets by ELISA

The occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in Indian infant milk products and liquid milk samples was investigated by competitive ELISA technique. A total of 87 samples in categories of infant milk food (18), infant formula (17), milk based cereal weaning food (40) and liquid milk samples (12) showed that the incidence of contamination of AFM1 was of the magnitude of 87.3%. The range of contamination of AFM1 was comparatively higher in infant milk products (65–1012 ng/l) than liquid milk (28–164 ng/l). Almost 99% of the contaminated samples exceeded the European Communities/Codex Alimentarius recommended limits (50 ng/l), while 9% samples exceeded the prescribed limit of US regulations (500 ng/l). The extrapolation of AFM1 data to estimate the Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in dairy cattle feedstuffs indicate that the contamination may range from 1.4 to 63.3 μg/kg with a mean of 18 μg/kg which is substantially higher than the directive of European Communities regulation (5 μg/kg). The results suggest a need to introduce safety limits for AFM1 levels (480 ng/kg) in infant milk products and liquid milk under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of India as well as to prescribe the levels of AFB1 in dairy cattle feedstuffs so as to minimize the health hazard risk in infant population at large.