Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche ''Togo Rosati''

Authors    Pecorelli I, Branciari R, Roila R, Ranucci D, Bibi R, Valiani A

Abstract    Aflatoxin M¹ (AFM_1) is a hepatocarcinogenic and genotoxic derivative of aflatoxin B_1 excreted into milk after ingestion of feed contaminated by Aspergillus genus fungi. Because of the important role of dairy products, especially cow cheese, in the human diet, there is great concern about the presence of AFM_1 in this food category. EC Regulation No. 1881/2006 establishes the importance of the enrichment factor (EF), an essential parameter that must be defined in order to evaluate the maximum level of the toxin in cheese aiming to ensure that cheese has been produced from compliant milk. The Italian Ministry of Health has established two provisional AFM_1 EFs (5.5 and 3.0) to be applied to as many cheese categories (hard and soft), defined according to the moisture content on a fat free basis (MFFB) classification. Two experimental productions of Primosale and Fior di Latte cheese, both belonging to the soft cheese category, showed an EF of 4.1 and 2.9 respectively. Data in literature also suggest that the EF attribution based on the current categorization may need reconsideration.

Publish Date  2020

Volume      9 (1)

ISSN          2239-7132

DOI            doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2020.8419

URL           https://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/ijfs/article/view/8419

Journal     Italian Journal of Food Safety

Pages       art. n. 8419

PMID        32300565