Aflatoxin M1 levels in the raw milk produced by a dairy factory and the milk distribution centers in Sanandaj, Iran (2015)

Aflatoxins are fungal toxins with carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is resistant to autoclave, pasteurization temperature, and other food preservation procedures. The present study aimed to measure and compare the levels of AFM1 in 84 raw milk samples collected during six successive months, including 36 samples from a dairy factory and 48 samples from four major local dairy distribution centers. The day of sampling was selected randomly. AFM1 levels were measured using the ELISA assay. In distribution centers number one, two, three, and four, the levels of AFM1 were higher than the permissible limits in 33%, 25%, 8.3%, and 25% of the samples, respectively. Furthermore, the level of AFM1 in 19.44% of the factory samples was higher than the permissible limits in the United States. The mean AFM1 concentration in distribution centers number one, two, three, and four and the dairy factory was 0.0344, 0.243, 0.19, 0.301, and 0.175, respectively. The results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant difference in the mean concentration of AFM1 with (P=0.279). According to the results, it is recommended that more preventive actions be taken in order to control the AFM1 content of livestock feeds and consumed milk in Kurdistan University, Iran.