A preliminary survey of aflatoxin M1 in dairy cattle products in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the aflatoxin M 1 contents of fresh milk, fermented defatted skimmed milk (nono) and full fat or partially skimmed milk (kindirmo) from two dairy farm settlements in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Thirty samples (10 of each product) were collected from the sampling sites and evaluated for their AFM1 concentrations using High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained showed 100% prevalence of AFM1 in the three products at mean concentrations of 0.665, 0.924,0.575µg/l respectively. All the samples had toxin levels above the European Union action level of 0.05µg/l for milk and milk products while 5 out of the 30 samples had AFM1 contents above the United States’ tolerable limit of 0.5µg/kg. This high AFM1 level in Nigerian milk and its product elicits public health concern which necessitates regulation of mycotoxins in foods and feeds in the country