Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in tank bulk goat milk and ripened goat cheese

This paper reports the results of a two year survey on AFM1 contamination in goat milk and hard goat cheese produced in Sardinia (Italy). The AFM1 content in 208 bulk-tank goat milk samples was measured, using an ELISA commercial kit. The samples came from 45 extensive and 7 intensive farms. During each lactation period, four samples were collected. The AFM1 content was also studied in 41 hard goat cheese samples from 12 cheese factories. AFM1 was detected in 36 bulk-tank goat milk samples (17.3%) at concentrations of between 5 and 40 ng/l, while in 172, it was not detectable (<5 ng/l). The incidence of contaminated samples was higher in intensive (71.4%) than in extensive ones (11.2%). AFM1 was also detected in 4 (9.8%) out of 41 samples of ripened goat cheese at levels of between 79.5 ng/kg and 389 ng/kg. These contaminated samples were obtained from the same cheese factory where the milk from the intensive farms was used.