Seasonal variations of aflatoxin M1 in the farm milk in Albania.

Abstract

This paper presents monitoring data on levels of aflatoxin M1 in the farm-gate milk in Albania. The monitoring included 120 evenly distributed samples collected in winter and summer from various farms all over the country. The levels of aflatoxin M1 were determined using the quantitative thin layer chromatography. On average, the winter milk samples revealed higher concentrations of aflatoxin M1 than the summer samples. Thirteen percent of the winter samples resulted above the 0.5 microgram/kg level, as compared to 3% of the summer samples exceeding that level. Skimmed and semi-skimmed milk from the same source contained comparatively lower levels of aflatoxin M1 than whole milk.