Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in pasteurised, UHT milk and milk powder from goat origin

In the present study, 36 samples of pasteurised, ultra-high-temperature (UHT) treated and goat milk powder traded in the city of Campinas, Brazil, were analysed for aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)), from October to December 2004 and March to May 2005. Results showed 25 (69.4%) positive samples for AFM(1) at levels of 0.011-0.161 mu L-1 of milk, which were below the tolerance limit of 0. 500 mu g L-1 as adopted for AFM(1) in milk by Brazilian regulations. Mean levels of AFM(1) in pasteurised, UHT and goat milk powder were 0.072 +/- 0.048, 0.058 +/- 0.044 and 0.056 +/- 10.031 mu g L-1, respectively. It is concluded that the incidence of AFM(1) in goat milk traded in Campinas is high, but at levels that probably leads to a non-significant human exposure to AFM(1) by consumption of goat milks. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.