Occurrence and analysis of aflatoxin M1 in milk produced by Indian dairy species

A total of 600 samples of milk from different species [buffalo (150), cow (150), goat (150), and sheep (150)] were analyzed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM₁) contamination using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. AFM₁ contamination was found in buffalo (38.6%), cow (45.3%), goat (33.3%), and sheep (36.6%) milk. The mean value of AFM₁ was 0.026 µg L⁻¹ in buffalo, 0.018 µg L⁻¹ in cow, 0.014 µg L⁻¹ in goat, and 0.017 µg L⁻¹ in sheep milk. In all types of milks, the level of AFM₁ concentration was higher in milk obtained from urban and semi-urban areas, whereas it was found minimal in milk from rural areas. The results of the analysis of AFM₁ level by the ELISA analysis (ng L⁻¹) was observed in 46.5% of all samples. The amount of AFM₁ in 16% buffalo, 44% cow, 10% goat, and 12% sheep milk samples was above the maximum tolerance limit accepted by the European Union.