Presence of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk Samples Collected from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Although rumen flora protects dairy animals against exposure to mycotoxins, various mycotoxins can pass this barrier to the animal milk. The major metabolite excreted with milk in dairy sheep, cows and other ruminants is Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). In this connection, 160 milk samples of camel, cow milk, goat, sheep and pasteurized milk samples were collected from different farms and supermarkets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For mycotoxins detection, all milk samples were screened for Aflatoxin M1 using immunoaffinity columns coupled with a Fluorometer. Out of 160 tested milk samples, 74 (47%) were contaminated with AFM1and the contamination level was less than 0.5 ppm. The less milk contaminated samples with AFM1 were camel milk samples< pasteurized milk< goat milk< sheep milk< cow milk. Out of 32 camel milk samples, 10(31%) were contaminated with AFM1. The quantity of AFM1 detected in camel milk was ranged from 0.017 -0. 140 ppb with mean value of 0.046 ppb which is lower than that of USA recommended limit (0.5 ppb). Statistical analysis showed that camel milk samples were significantly less contaminated compared to other milk samples. On conclusion, all examined milk samples collected from Jeddah were contaminated with AFM1 and the contamination levels were not exceed the USA limit, thus milk is a save food for consummation by human and infants.