Contamination rate of Isfahan pasteurized milk to Aflatoxin M1

Mycotoxins in milk are a public health concern, then there is a need for monitoring its level regularly. In this study the levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk were evaluated. During late march and early April 2015, 19 raw milk and 89 pasteurized milk samples distributed in Isfahan (Isfahan province, Iran) were collected in supermarkets and checked for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Samples were analyzed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) with a validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Findings: The mean concentration of aflatoxin M1 in pasteurized milk was 0.03 ± 0.019 µg/kg that was lower than Codex Alimentarius, FDA standards (0.5 µg/L), Iranian national standard (0.1 µg /L) and EU standard (0.05 µg/kg) (p < 0.05). The mean concentration of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk was 0.008 ± 0.011µg/L that were significantly not only below the FDA, Codex Alimentarius, Iranian national and EU standards, but also lower than mean concentration of aflatoxin M1 in pasteurized milk .The mean aflatoxin M1 concentration in pasteurized milk produced in Isfahan was 0.02 ± 0.011µg/L that was lower than aflatoxin M1 concentration (0.040 ± 0.020 µg/L) that import from other province to Isfahan (p < 0.05). It is concluded that during winter of 2015, aflatoxin M1 levels in raw and pasteurized milks marketed in Isfahan were not a serious human health hazard, but strict regular control by official organization is emphasized.