The study represents the largest investigation of the AFM1 occurrence in more than 1400 milk and dairy product samples collected in Serbia during the 24 months period of 2013 and 2014. It
is also the first seasonal study on the levels of AFM1 in Serbia. This
investigation confirmed increased levels of AFM1 in milk and milk
products in Serbia during the 2013, due to the extreme weather
conditions in 2012 that enabled elevation of B aflatoxins in animal
feed. It also showed that the AFM1 mean concentration in raw milk
and UHT milk samples have significantly decreased in 2014
compared to 2013.
When the AFM1 concentrations in different types of milk
products were analyzed it was apparent that milk powders were
most precarious and were followed by hard and white cheeses
while the infant formulas were least hazardous.
Regarding seasonal effect and its influences on the concentration
of aflatoxin M1, the results confirmed previously published
observations that elevated concentrations of AFM1 in milk and milk
products can be expected during winter.
In order to avoid another rise of aflatoxin concentrations in the
years to come, if extreme weather conditions should reoccur,
instead of changing and amending official regulations in order to
avoid financial losses, Serbia must introduce segregation of
contaminated lots after aflatoxin analyses and sorting out
contaminated grains by electronic sorters. Contaminated lots of
maize must be cleaned up to produce food-grade products in the
future.
Since the adoption of the Food Safety Law in Serbia (Serbian
Regulation, 2009), the main responsibility falls on producers,
manufacturers and importers to ensure that products are safe.
Therefore, we must advise Serbian milk producers and importers
not to reduce or even to increase the frequency of AFM1 testing in
order to avoid future problems with this toxic fungal metabolite