Aflatoxin M1 levels in cheese samples from some provinces of Turkey

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) levels were determined in 600 cheese samples (200 white, 200 kashar and 200 processed cheeses). The samples were collected from some provinces of Turkey and analysed between January 2001 and February 2002 in Bursa, Turkey. AFM1 levels were determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The highest AFM1 concentration was 800 ng/kg in kashar cheese. AFM1 was detected in 30 (5%) samples consisting of 10 white, 12 kashar and 8 processed cheese. Altogether, the AFM1 levels in 6 of 600 (1%) exceeded the legal limits of 250 ng/kg established by the Turkish Food Codex.