Detection of aflatoxins in diary cattle feed and milk in Lavras, Minas Gerais - Brazil

The M-1 (AFM(1)) aflatoxin has been detected in milk from animal fed with aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) contaminated ration, with close toxic and carcinogenic effects. This is a potential a health public problem, because young individuals are among the greater milk consumers and more sensible to their effects. This study was developed to determine the aflatoxins presence in ration and AFM(1) in raw and pasteurized milk. Twelve milk producers were used, and only two presented significant aflatoxin M-1 values in milk. Milk samples were taken 24 hours after the collection of the ration. The method used for the aflatoxins detection was a thin layer in silica 60 G chromatography. For determination of AFM(1) in milk, the immunoafinity column method was used for purification, with subsequent detection by reverse phase HPLC. The aflatoxins were not detected in ration samples, with the quantification limit being 2 mu g Kg(-1). In milk samples, where the quantification limit was much lower (2 ng L-1), AFM(1) was detected in 19 (52,8%) from 36 raw milk samples in trace values of about 74.1 ng L-1. In pasteurized milk, the AFM(1) was detected in 13 (38.2%) from 34 samples, in trace values of about 58.9 ng L-1. The aflatoxin concentrations found are within tolerated standard according to Brazilian legislation. There was no difference among the aflatoxin concentration in raw and pasteurized milk.