Seasonal variation of aflatoxin M1 contamination in industrial and traditional Iranian dairy products

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in 682 dairy product samples consisting of raw milk of cow, goat and sheep; Lighvan cheese; and industrial and traditional yoghurt, Kashk and Doogh samples collected from popular markets and dairy ranches in four large Iranian cities. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique was used for analysis of the samples. Results showed that the incidence and levels of AFM1 contamination in raw cow milk and industrial products (manufactured from cow milk) were higher than raw goat or sheep milk, and traditional products (made from goat and sheep milk), respectively. Moreover, seasonal variations influenced the concentration of AFM1 in most of the analyzed dairy products. Owing to the abundance and popularity of the industrial products, contamination of these products in such a level could be a potential hazard for public health.