Determination of Aflatoxin Levels in Raw Milk, Cheese and Dehulled Hazelnut Samples Consumed in Samsun Province, Turkey

Abstract

Thirty six samples of raw cows' milk, 50 samples of milk products (25 samples each of fresh white cheese and Kashar cheese), and 50 samples of dehulled hazelnut were randomly collected from the Samsun province of Turkey. The dairy products and hazelnut samples were analyzed for the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), respectively, by microtiter-plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The incidence of AFM1 contamination in the samples of raw cow milk, fresh white cheese and Kashar cheese were 61%, 12%, and 80%, respectively. AFB1 contamination was detected in 43 (86%) of the dehulled hazelnut samples (ranging from less than 1 to 11.3 μg kg-1). The AFM1 levels determined in the samples of milk and dairy products were lower than the limit set by the Turkish Food Codex and European Union, whereas the AFB1 levels of two dehulled hazelnut samples exceeded the legal limit.