Determination of Aflatoxin M1 concentration in packaged milk of Mashhad and Gonabad city by ELIZA

Aflatoxins are acute toxigenic and stable in heating process. Therefore determination of its concentration in milk is critical. The aim of this study was to evaluate aflatoxin M1 concentration in packaged milk produced in Mashhad and Gonabad. Aflatoxin concentration in milk samples was detected by ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique and compared by limit of EU regulation and ISIRI. Totally 80 samples were analyzed for AFM1. The lower layer after separation fat by centrifuge was tested by ELIZA at 450 nm. The average concentration and standard deviation of aflatoxin M1 in the packaged milks produced in Mashhad were 0.040±0.015, 0.021±0.007, 0.022±0.003, 0.05±0.008 and in the packaged milks produced in Gonabad were 0.024±0.019, 0.027±0.021 & 0.031±0.029 ppb respectively. In overall, 13% of the milk samples had the aflatoxin M1 concentration higher than the 0.05 ppb (Iranian standard) and only one sample had aflatoxin M1 greater than 0.08 ppb. According to the results in this study, the average aflatoxin M1 levels of all factories was below European community and Codex Alimentary and ISIRI. The data showed that the differences of between two cities were not statistically significant.