OCCURRENCE OF AFLATOXIN M-1 IN COMMERCIAL PASTEURIZED MILK DETERMINEDWITH ELISA AND HPLC

Eighty-one samples of commercial pasteurized milk from Athens market w ere analysed for the presence of aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)). A combination of a commercial ELISA kit and a modified HPLC method was applied for the rapid and reliable determination of AFM(1). AFM(1) concentrations in milk extracts were initially estimated by ELISA. Samples found to c ontain more than 5 ng/l were further quantitated by HPLC. Determinatio n was performed after derivatization of AFM(1) to its hydroxylated pro duct AFM(2 alpha). The recovery of the HPLC method used was found to b e close to 100%. Thirty-two samples contained aflatoxin M-1 at levels of 2.5-5 ng/l, none contained more than 5 ng/l, while 31 contained onl y traces of aflatoxin (0.5-1 ng/l). In nine samples no AFM(1) was dete cted. There was no seasonal influence on the aflatoxin content of the milk samples analysed.