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

Aflatoxins are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic compounds. The purpose of this survey was to determine natural occurrence and level of AFM1 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 (n = 80) showed that the incidence of contamination with AFM1 is 96.3%, the presence of AFM1 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 AFM1 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 AFM1 in milk and 25 ng/kg in infant milk products).