[Presence of aflatoxin in products intended for human consumption: the choice of methods and the results obtained]

Ann Ig. 1989 Jan-Apr;1(1-2):223-35.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The contamination of food resources by aflatoxin is a major problem for those countries where the meteorological and sanitary conditions allow the growth of Aspergillus Flavus and the contaminated food is not discarded because of the critical economical and social situation. However this phenomenon is also recorded in those Nations where the environmental and meteorological conditions are not favourable to Aspergillus Flavus growth. In Europe it has been possible to measure low aflatoxin (M1) concentrations in milk destined to humans. This kind of contamination may represent a source of chronic exposure to an important risk factor for hepatocancerogenesis. In Italy an appropriate law regulating the maximum aflatoxin concentration in the food destined to human nutrition is lacking, therefore the purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of a possible human exposure from the milk consumed in the Turin area (north western Italy). The results obtained display a lower (but more diffused) contamination in milk sampled after processing treatments (1.9-15 ppt), than in raw milk (5.3-94 ppt). Moreover it has been possible to show a positive relationship between dry animal feed and aflatoxin concentrations in milk.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxins / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Food Contamination* / analysis
  • Food Handling / methods
  • Italy
  • Milk / analysis*

Substances

  • Aflatoxins