A study on the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products produced in Van province of Turkey

In this study, the levels of alfatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk samples obtained from the dairy plant of Agricultural Faculty of Yüzüncü Yıl University were determined. In addition, the fate, and carry-over of AFM1 in milk products manufactured by the same dairy plant were studied. AFM1 was found in 79 (87.77%) of 90 of the milk samples examined. 35 (44.30%) of the positive samples were higher than the maximum tolerance limit (0.05 ppb) accepted by Turkey and some other countries. Statistical evaluations showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) between the mean concentrations of AFM1 of milk samples taken from March to April and March to May. On the other hand, the significance level of differences between the mean concentrations of AFM1 of milk samples taken from April to June and May to June was P<0.01. To determine the fate and carry-over of AFM1 in milk products, 93 samples were investigated. The results showed that there were no statistical differences between AFM1 contents of bulk milk and pasteurised milk, skim milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, and whey. AFM1 contents of white-pickled cheese and Kashar cheese samples were higher than those of bulk milk samples (P<0.01). Whereas those of cream and butter samples were lower (P<0.01).