Determination of Aflatoxin M1and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets.
Aflatoxin M1(AFM1) after its bioconversion from aflatoxin B1in animal liver becomes the part of milk while heavy metals get entry into milk and milk products during handling in the supply chain. Aflatoxin M1and heavy metals being toxic compounds are needed to be monitored continuously to avoid any ailments among consumers of foods contaminated with such toxicants. Thirteen commercially available infant formula milk (IFM) brands available in Pakistani markets were analyzed for the quantitative determination of AFM1and heavy metals through ELISA and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. AFM1was found positive in 53.84% samples while 30.76% samples were found exceeding the maximum EU limit i.e. 0.025 μg/kg for AFM1in IFM. Heavy metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were found below the detection limits in any of the sample, whereas the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) ranged between 45.40-97.10, 29.72-113.50 and <0.001-50.90 μg/kg, respectively. The concentration of Fe in all the tested brands was found in normal ranges while the concentrations of Zn and Ni were found exceeding the standard norms. Elevated levels of AFM1, Zn and Ni in some of the tested IFM brands indicated that a diet completely based on these IFM brands might pose sever health implications in the most vulnerable community i.e., infants.
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan.
Saeed
S
Akhtar
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan.
Muhammad Arif
MA
Shahzad
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea.
Sang-Ho
SH
Yoo
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan.
Amir
A
Ismail
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan.
Aneela
A
Hameed
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan.
Tariq
T
Ismail
Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-Pakistan; Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea.
Muhammad
M
Riaz
aflatoxin M1; heavy metals; milk; permissible