Aflatoxin M1 Determination in Ice Cream Based on Immunoaffinity Column Clean-up Followed by HPLC-FLD

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in industrial ice cream was analyzed by immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector (FLD) as a highly-sensitive method to confirm and quantify AFM1 in the ice cream samples. A total of 150 industrial ice cream samples were randomly collected from supermarkets in seven Iranian cities (Tehran, Tabriz, Karaj, Urmia, Sanandaj, Qazvin, and Khoramabad). AFM1 was detected in more than 80.0% of samples. The average AFM1 concentration in ice cream was 29.79 ng/L. According to the results, in 12.62% of samples, AFM1 levels exceeded the maximum European Union (EU) limits for adults (50 ng/mL). This study recommends regular monitoring of AFM1 concentration in ice cream in Iran. Results of this study indicate the need to develop a database to assist law enforcement agencies, traders, and policymakers in local governments to minimize or prevent health-related risks caused by AFM1.