1. Introduction
Aflatoxins are a group of highly toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most abundant aflatoxin in naturally contaminated foods and feeds, especially in tropical and warm regions. Among the various feedstuffs susceptible of mycotoxin contamination, cereals and si- lage are the major source of contamination (Scudamore et al., 1998). AFB1 ingested in contaminated feeds is absorbed in the gas- trointestinal tract and mainly metabolized in the liver into afla- toxin M1 (AFM1), a metabolite as toxic as the parent mycotoxin that is excreted in urine and in milk of dairy animals. AFM1 is con- sidered a potential carcinogen for animals and humans (Cavaliere et al., 2006). Presence of AFM1 in milk and dairy products may have negative health implications for consumers, particularly for infants and children. For this reason, AFM1 level in milk and milk products are regulated in many countries. The European Union fixed at 50 ng/L the limit of AFM1 in milk (European Commission, 2010). In contrast, no regulation exists in Morocco and most Afri- can countries. A Moroccan standard draft has been submitted by the inter-ministerial Committee for Food Control, but has not yet been adopted.
Investigations on the presence of AFM1 in milk in Morocco are scarce. Only one study was conducted on the occurrence of AFM1 in pasteurized milk (Zinedine et al., 2007). However, no data are available on the presence of AFM1 in raw milk produced by small- holders dairy producers.
The aim of this study was to determine the presence of AFM1 in raw milk collected from traditional dairies based in the northern center of Morocco throughout a year.