Dairy products, aflatoxin-contaminated

Humans are also exposed to the aflatoxins when consuming animal products that were contaminated because the animal ate feed containing aflatoxin. Aflatoxin contamination can be passed to milk and dairy products as aflatoxin M (Figure 9.1). 

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi which can cause acute toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects in animals. The fact that mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, are among the most potent animal toxins and carcinogens known, warrants concern about the contamination of the human food supply, including dairy products, with mycotoxins. 

Stubblefield, R. D., and Shannon, G. M. (1974). Aflatoxin Mj Analysis in dairy products and distribution in dairy foods made from artifically contaminated milk. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 57, 847-851. 

The fungi producing aflatoxin are found naturally worldwide and tend to grow on peanuts, cereal crops, tree nuts and in dairy products. It is estimated that up to 25% of die world s food crops are significantly contaminated with mycotoxins. 

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