Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk of five dairy species in Ahvaz, Iran

During November 2007 to December 2008, 311 samples of raw milk from cow, water buffalo, camel, sheep, and goat were collected in the Ahvaz (southwest Iran). All of the samples were analyzed for presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) by competitive ELISA technique. AFM1 was found in 42.1% of the samples by average concentration of 43.3 ± 43.8 ng/kg. The incidence rates of AFM1 in raw cow, water buffalo, camel, sheep, and goat milks were, 78.7%, 38.7%, 12.5%, 37.3%, and 27.1%, respectively. The concentration of AFM1 in all of the samples were lower than Iranian national standard and FDA limit (500 ng/l), but in 36% of raw cow milk, 8% water buffalo milk, 3.9% sheep milk, and 5.7% raw goat milk samples were higher than maximum tolerance limit accepted by European union/Codex Alimentarius Commission (50 ng/l). The results showed that the milk of camel, goat, and sheep is safe respect to AFM1 contamination in this area.