A Study of the Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in Dairy Products Marketed in Urmia, Iran

The purpose of this survey was to evaluate natural occurrence and content of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in dairy products marketed in Urmia (Iran). During September 2007, 40 samples of pasteurized milk, 40 samples of Ultra High Temperature Treated (UHT) milk, 40 samples of creamy cheese and 40 samples of Iranian Feta cheese were collected from different supermarkets in Urmia city. AFM1 contents were determined through competitive Enzyme Linked Imunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. All milk samples analyzed showed mean AFM1 concentrations lower than the permissible level of 50 ng L-1 (23.22±8.65, and 19.53±7.47 ng L-1 in pasteurized milk, and UHT milk, respectively). The mean levels of AFM1 contamination were 43.31±18.51 ng L-1 in Feta cheeses, 21.96±3.23 ng L-1 in creamy cheeses. The potential risk of human exposure to aflatoxin M1 via consumption of milk and milk products is well known. Therefore, dairy products must be evaluated for aflatoxin and kept apart from fungal contamination as much as possible.