Occurrence and estimation of aflatoxin M1 exposure in milk in Serbia

The occurrence of AFM1 was investigated in 150 cowʹs, 10 goatʹs, 5 donkeyʹs, 10 breasts milk and 1 infant formula samples. Analyses were done using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. AFM1 was detected in 98.7% of analyzed cowʹs milk samples in concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 1.2 μg/kg. Further, even 129 (86.0%) cowʹs milk samples contained AFM1 in concentration greater than maximum residue levels (MRL) of 0.05 μg/kg defined by European Union (EU) Regulation. Analysis of other types of milk showed that AFM1 was detected in 80.0% goatʹs, 60.0% donkeyʹs and 60.0% of breasts milk samples. gh Serbian Regulation for MRL of AFM1 in milk has been changed and harmonized with EU Regulation in 2011, occurrence of AFM1 in milk in Serbia during 2013 resulted in Regulation changes, and MRL were changed from 0.05 to 0.5 μg/kg. basis of the obtained concentrations of the AFM1 in cowʹs milk, collected information about average milk intake and mean body weight (bw) for different ageʹs categories, mean ingestion of AFM1 in ng/kg per bw per day were estimated. Obtained results showed that all ageʹs categories, especially children, are exposed with high risk related to presence of AFM1 in milk. are only a few published data about occurrence of AFM1 in milk in Serbia and none about intake assessment for AFM1.