Presence of Mycotoxins in Feed and Dairy Products of Cattle in Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Milk contamination by mycotoxins is considered a public health problem. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify these contaminants in concentrates and in the milk from 31 high-producing herds. Only two of the 55 concentrate samples analyzed showed the presence of aflatoxin G₁ (AFG₁, 3.2 and 3.6 μg·kg^-1). AFM₁ was detected in 93.5% of the 62 milk samples analyzed with a range from 0.045 to 0.442 μg·L^-1. All of the AFM₁ concentrations were below the maximum limit tolerated (0.5 μg·kg^-1) by the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). There was no difference in AFM₁ contamination levels for both sampling periods (summer and winter). In conclusion, the AFM₁ contamination in animal feed and, consequently, in milk is within the limits tolerated by ANVISA for Brazil (≤ 0.5 μg·kg^-1). Furthermore, no season effect on AFM₁ levels was found.