Aflatoxin B1 and M1 in milk

The aflatoxin M₁ (AFLAM₁) is a mycotoxin that results from the hydroxylation of the aflatoxin B₁ (AFLAB₁). It contaminates the milk of animals fed with a diet containing its precursor. In this work, we determined the occurrence of AFLAB₁ and AFLAM₁ in milk, as well as the chromatographic conditions to quantify these mycotoxins. The extraction and quantification of AFLAB₁ and AFLAM₁ in naturally contaminated and artificially spiked milk samples which are produced and marketed in the state of RS were performed using the AOAC official method and UHPLC with fluorescence detection. We obtained a separation factor of 2.3 for AFLAB₁ and AFLAM₁ using a mobile phase consisting of 1% acetic acid:acetonitrile:methanol (55:10:35). The analytical curves had a wide linearity range and the limit of quantification (LOQ_m) concentrations of AFLAB₁ and AFLAM₁ were equal to 0.5 and 0.25 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Samples of pasteurized and ultra-high-temperature processed (UHT) milk showed natural contamination, and the levels for both aflatoxins ranged from 0.7 to 1.5 μg L⁻¹. Raw and concentrated milk samples only contained AFLAM₁, with a maximum average concentration of 1.7 μg L⁻¹. These concentrations, higher than permitted by legislation, confirm the existence of a health risk, as well as highlight the relevance of searching for alternatives to reduce this contamination.