Investigation of aflatoxin M1 levels of fresh white cheeses offered for sale in Elazig, Kovancilar, Bingol, and Tunceli, in Turkey

In this study, in fresh white cheeses collected from Elazig, Kovancilar, Bingol, and Tunceli in Turkey were examined presence and residue levels of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). For this purpose, twenty-four white cheese samples were collected from each city, and a total of 96 white cheese samples were collected periodically from March to August in 2020. Aflatoxin analysis was performed by ELISA method. As a result of the analysis, the incidence of AFM1 in the fresh white cheese samples collected from Elazig, Kovancilar, Bingol, and Tunceli ranged from 0.71 to 4.50 μg/kg, from 1.80 to 4.33 μg/kg, from 0.12 to 3.96 μg/kg, and from 1.35 to 3.51, respectively. The AFM1 level in the analyzed cheese samples was found higher than 0.05 μg/kg, which is the limit value for AFM1 stated in the Turkish Food Codex. As a result, AFM1 levels of fresh white cheeses produced at different sales points in different provinces pose a potential risk for consumers in terms of public health, farmers/producers/employees in feed and cheese production companies need to be informed about the aflatoxin and aflatoxicosis and terms of hygiene and sanitation rules to be followed during production, and also the continuous monitoring of the aflatoxin level must be applied by the Turkish public health authorities.