Aflatoxin occurrence inmilk and supplied concentrates of goat farms of north-eastern Italy

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in goat milk. A survey involving 17 dairy goat farms of north-eastern Italy was completed during 2005 and 2006, in order to evaluate the prevalence of milk contamination and its relationship with type and level of concentrate supplied. RESULTS: 132 concentrate and 85 milk samples were collected during five farm visits and analysed for aflatoxins. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was >0.1 μg kg−1 in two-thirds of the feeds and >5 μg kg−1 in nine. Contamination was higher in maize than in other pure feeds (median: 0.8 versus 0.1 μg kg−1); complementary feeds showed intermediate values. AflatoxinM1 (AFM1) was >3 ngkg−1 in one-third ofmilks and >25 ng kg−1 in three. All the milk samples were below EU statutory limits. The farm ranks formilk AFM1 level and the peak of concentrate AFB1 contamination were significantly correlated (0.642). CONCLUSIONS: Risk to human health was generally found to be absent, with only a few cases involving feed contamination to be monitored. Themain aflatoxin risk for goat milk could arise from maize and maize-based concentrates in the more intensive breeding conditions.