title: Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in retail milk samples from Bogotá, Colombia.
abstract: A study was conducted to establish the occurrence and levels of contamination of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in retail milk from Bogotá, Colombia. A total of 241 samples were analysed during 2004 and 2005. Samples were cleaned up by an immunoaffinity column and AFM1 was quantified by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A total of 69.2 and 79.4% of the samples analysed during 2004 and 2005, respectively, were found to contain levels of AFM1 above 10 ng l(-1). Levels of contamination ranged from 10.7 to 213.0 ng l(-1) in 2004, and from 10.6 to 288.9 ng l(-1) in 2005. Despite the high incidence of AFM1 found in the milk samples analysed, all samples complied with current local regulations, which allow AFM1 content in milk up to 400 ng l(-1). However, due to the high incidence of AFM1 in milk found in the present study, it is recommended that a permanent surveillance programme be established for milk consumed in Bogotá in order to prevent milk lots containing levels above the regulatory level entering the food chain.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Toxicología, Departamento de Ciencias para la Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. gjdiazg@unal.edu.co
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espitia
mesh_terms: D016607:Aflatoxin M1 / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003105:Colombia; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011042:Poisons / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D011042:Poisons; D016607:Aflatoxin M1