OCCURRENCE OF AFLATOXIN M1 IN MILK IN QOM, IRAN

Aflatoxins are potent fungal toxins, that may be transmitted and present in foods; this is possible if aflatoxin have infected the primary product source, animal or agricultural product. There can be major negative health effects if exposed to very high aflatoxin levels, these levels are known to produce cirrhosis, necrosis and possible hepatic failure as well as changes in the digestive/absorption and metabolism. This paper aims to investigate the probable fungal infection of Aflatoxin M1 (AfM1) in milk product produced in the province of Qom, Iran (2013). For testing purposes, forty random milk samples were collected from eight milk-collecting centers, for evaluation and analysis of AfM1 content, HPLC method was used for evaluating all samples. All samples tested positive for AfM1, the average concentration of 0.170 μg L^sup -1^, in 100% of the samples. AfM1 levels were greater than EU limit and 87.5% of samples exceeded legal limit of national standard of Iran.