Excretion pattern of aflatoxins in buffalo milk and carry-over in mozzarella cheese

Abstract

Some raw materials, used in animal feeding, can be contaminated by aflatoxins (AF). All the mammals that ingest AFB1, excrete small amounts of the hydroxylated metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in their milk (Wood 1991). In the case of cow’s milk, the percentage excreted is 1-3% of that ingested (Veldman et al. 1992). AFM1 has been categorised as a class 2B, possible human carcinogen. AFM1 is associated with the protein fraction of milk and hence it is carried-over to cheese and to other milk products (Brackett and Marth, 1982)....

Keywords

• aflatoxins, buffalo, milk, cheese.