Scientific Documents

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to Aflatoxin B1 as undesirable substance in animal feed

Summary (87 KB)

Opinion (415 KB)

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites of moulds, contaminating diverse food and feed materials. In consideration of the carcinogenic properties of aflatoxin B1, human exposure should be reduced to levels as low as reasonable achievable. Current EU legislation addresses various susceptible plant-derived food commodities as well as milk. Milk is contaminated with the hydroxy-metabolite aflatoxin M1, following exposure of lactating animals to aflatoxin B1 present in feedstuffs. As aflatoxin M1 has toxicological properties comparable to those of aflatoxin B1, albeit its lower carcinogenic potency, maximum levels for aflatoxin M1 have been set for consumable milk at 0.05 µg/kg, and 0.025 µg/kg for infant formulae, respectively, aiming to reduce human exposure to the lowest achievable level. Model calculations on the carry-over of aflatoxins present in feedstuff into milk revealed that under circumstantial maximum exposure from feed materials (albeit in compliance with the levels set for feed materials), milk obtained from high-yielding dairy cows and other milk producing animals including small ruminants, buffalo and camels, might contain aflatoxin M1 levels exceeding the present statutory limits. Surveys conducted by various EU member states, however, revealed a very low incidence of such milk samples, not complying with the current EU regulations. Taking into account the present agricultural practice and the possibility of aflatoxin B1 to be present also in staple feeds grown in Europe, monitoring activity towards aflatoxin M1 contamination of milk should be intensified and expanded to consumable milk from animal species other than dairy cows.