Levels of aflatoxin M1 in different types of milk collected in Serbia: Assessment of human and animal exposure

•AFM1 was determined in 50 milk samples from the Serbian market.•Samples were prepared by SPE and the obtained extracts were analyzed with UHPLC-HESI-MS/MS.•Thirty-eight samples (76%) exceed the maximum level of 0.05 μg/kg sets by EU.•AFM1 daily intake and hazard index were estimated.•The corresponding concentration of AFB1 in feedstuffs was evaluated as 18.75 μg/kg.

The level of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in 50 milk samples collected from February to June 2013 from Serbian market or domestically produced was determined using simple non-specific sample preparation method based on solid phase extraction (Oasis HLB, Waters) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with heated electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HESI-MS/MS). The range of detection was between < LOD and 1.44 μg/kg with mean value of 0.30 μg/kg. Thirty-eight samples (76%) exceed the maximum level of 0.05 μg/kg sets by EU. The highest level of 1.44 μg/kg was found in raw sample of domestically produced milk while the lowest one in organic produced milk. The evaluation of the exposure degree of AFM1 through the milk consumption by the average Serbian citizen was estimated at levels of 1.420, 0.769 and 0.503 ng/kg bw/day during February, April and May, respectively. Estimation of the corresponding concentration of AFB1 in feedstuffs was evaluated as 18.75 μg/kg. The calculated hazard index of 7.1, 3.8 and 2.5 for February, April and May, respectively, was higher than 1 indicated serious risk of AFM1 to Serbian consumers. This work presents the first insight in the occurrence of AFM1 in milk collected in Serbia as well as mycotoxin intake through milk consumption by Serbian adult population.