Detection of AFM1 in Milk and Some Dairy Products in Iraq using different techniques

Abstract

The 130 samples of milk and some dairy products were randomly collected from Baghdad markets from September 2014 to June 2015 and distributes into imported and local samples include: liquid and powder milk, white and soft cheese in addition to yoghurt. The samples were analyzed to qualitative and quantitative detection of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) using different techniques {Thin layer chromatography- TLC (qualitative), High performance liquid chromatography- HPLC and Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay- ELISA (quantitative}. The positive results (contaminated with AFM₁),  showed  as 50 (38.5%), 65 (50 %) and 70 (53.8%) respectively,  furthermore,  yogurt and cheese showed more contamination with AFM₁ than other products and the highest concentration of AFM₁ in the local cheese reached 300.7ng/L and 939.67ng/L when detected with HPLC and ELISA techniques respectively. We concluded that ELISA technique was found to be most advisable for detection of low-level AFM₁ contamination in milk and dairy products . On other side the local products were contaminated with AFM₁ than imported products , in addition to  yogurt and cheese were more contaminated with AFM₁ than other samples.

Key words: Detection, AFM1, TLC, HPLC , ELISA, Milk, Dairy Products, Iraq