Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya

Milk is an important source of energy and nutrients, especially for children, and in Kenya, milk consumption is higher than other countries in the region. One major concern with milk is the risks of chemical contaminants, and reports of high levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in Kenya has been ca...

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Main Authors: Lindahl, Johanna F., Kagera, I.N., Grace, Delia
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96892
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author Lindahl, Johanna F.
Kagera, I.N.
Grace, Delia
author_browse Grace, Delia
Kagera, I.N.
Lindahl, Johanna F.
author_facet Lindahl, Johanna F.
Kagera, I.N.
Grace, Delia
author_sort Lindahl, Johanna F.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Milk is an important source of energy and nutrients, especially for children, and in Kenya, milk consumption is higher than other countries in the region. One major concern with milk is the risks of chemical contaminants, and reports of high levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in Kenya has been causing public health concerns. This study collected marketed milk products every month during 1 year, just as a consumer would purchase them from retailers and traders in a low-income area, and a major supermarket in a middle/high-income area. In total, 291 sampled milk products (raw, pasteurised, UHT milk, yoghurt and lala) were collected and analysed for AFM1 using a commercial ELISA kit. More than 50% of the samples exceeded 50 ng/kg (the level allowed in the EU), but only three samples exceeded 500 ng/kg (the level allowed in the USA). Geometric mean AFM1 level was 61.9 ng/kg in the 135 samples from the low-income area while it was 36.1 ng/kg in the 156 from the higher income area (p < 0.001). The levels varied significantly depending on the time of year, with lowest levels of milk in January. There were also differences between manufacturers and products, with UHT milk having lower levels. There was no difference depending on the price for all dairy products, but when only including milk, higher price was associated with lower levels of AFM1. In conclusion, this study shows that milk purchased by a consumer is likely to contain AFM1 above 50 ng/kg, and that further research is needed to find ways to mitigate AFM1 contamination through working with farmers and milk processors both in the formal and informal sectors.
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spelling CGSpace968922023-12-08T19:36:04Z Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya Lindahl, Johanna F. Kagera, I.N. Grace, Delia aflatoxins animal products animal diseases food safety dairies Milk is an important source of energy and nutrients, especially for children, and in Kenya, milk consumption is higher than other countries in the region. One major concern with milk is the risks of chemical contaminants, and reports of high levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in Kenya has been causing public health concerns. This study collected marketed milk products every month during 1 year, just as a consumer would purchase them from retailers and traders in a low-income area, and a major supermarket in a middle/high-income area. In total, 291 sampled milk products (raw, pasteurised, UHT milk, yoghurt and lala) were collected and analysed for AFM1 using a commercial ELISA kit. More than 50% of the samples exceeded 50 ng/kg (the level allowed in the EU), but only three samples exceeded 500 ng/kg (the level allowed in the USA). Geometric mean AFM1 level was 61.9 ng/kg in the 135 samples from the low-income area while it was 36.1 ng/kg in the 156 from the higher income area (p < 0.001). The levels varied significantly depending on the time of year, with lowest levels of milk in January. There were also differences between manufacturers and products, with UHT milk having lower levels. There was no difference depending on the price for all dairy products, but when only including milk, higher price was associated with lower levels of AFM1. In conclusion, this study shows that milk purchased by a consumer is likely to contain AFM1 above 50 ng/kg, and that further research is needed to find ways to mitigate AFM1 contamination through working with farmers and milk processors both in the formal and informal sectors. 2018-11 2018-08-24T06:47:29Z 2018-08-24T06:47:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96892 en Open Access Springer Lindahl, J.F., Kagera, I.N. and Grace, D. 2018. Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya. Mycotoxin Research 34(4): 289–295.
spellingShingle aflatoxins
animal products
animal diseases
food safety
dairies
Lindahl, Johanna F.
Kagera, I.N.
Grace, Delia
Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title_full Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title_fullStr Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title_short Aflatoxin M1 levels in different marketed milk products in Nairobi, Kenya
title_sort aflatoxin m1 levels in different marketed milk products in nairobi kenya
topic aflatoxins
animal products
animal diseases
food safety
dairies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96892
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