Status of Aflatoxin M1 and bacteriological quality of pasteurized milk commercialized in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia
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Date
2018-01
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Background: Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk and milk products is considered to pose certain
hygienic risks for human health especially infants and children.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and bacterial level in 500
ml pre-packed pasteurized milk samples commercialized in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross sectional prospective study was conducted during February to December
2017. A total of 65 samples of pasteurized milks of different brands from a variety of
supermarkets across Addis Ababa city were analyzed for the presence of AFM1 by
immunoaffinity column clean-up coupled to HPLC with fluorescence detection based on the
method of AOAC Official Method 2000.08 and bacteriological quality was assessed for TVBC
and TCC based on the methods of US FDA and ISO 4832:2006 respectively.
Result: AFM1 was found in 60/65 (92.3%) of the examined pasteurized milk samples by
average concentration of 0.382μg/l and most of AFM1 concentration levels range with 95%
confidence interval (CI) lays between 0.299μg/l – 0.465μg/l. The concentration of AFM1 in
37/60 (61.7%) of the samples was lower than US FDA limit (<0.5μg/l) and in 56/60 (93.3%) of
the samples AFM1 concentration was greater than the maximum tolerance limit (0.05μg/l)
accepted by European Union. The bacteriological analysis result revealed that the pasteurized
milk samples were substandard in terms of TVBC and TCC. The ranges of TVBC and TCC with
95% CI in pasteurized milk samples were 2.1x105cfu/ml to 5.4x105cfu/ml and 1.6x102cfu/ml to
3.8x102cfu/ml respectively, and E. coli was detected in 4 out of 65 (6.2%) samples.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that serious risks for public health exist from
pasteurized milk consumption and the pasteurized milk commercialized in Addis Ababa city is
of low quality. Hence we recommend that pasteurized milk products have to be controlled for
AFM1 contamination and hygienic quality monitoring programs are urgently needed to ensure
that quality pasteurized milk is produced and consumed in the city.
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Keywords
Aflatoxin M1, Coliform, E. coli, Pasteurized milk, HPLC