Aflatoxin residues in milk of sows fed a naturally contaminated diet

Abstract

Several products used in animal feeding, are frequently contaminated by aflatoxins (AF). Animals excrete AF and their metabolites in milk, urine and faeces or accumulate them in several tissues. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1, “milk toxin”) was the first aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolite identified. All the mammals that ingest AFB1 during the lactation, excrete small amounts of AFM1 in their milk (Wood, 1991). Recently, AFM1 was categorised as a class 2B substance, possibly carcinogenic for humans, having accumulated evidence for carcinogenicity in animals (Smith et al., 1995). Since 1991, the Commission of the European Communities has set limit for AFB1 of 5μg/kg for supplementary feedstuffs for dairy cattle and of 20 μg/kg for complete feedstuffs for pigs.........

Keywords

• aflatoxins, sow, milk, carry-over