Mold contamination and total aflatoxin content in marketed raw milk in Zagazig city, Egypt

Abstract

Milk contains a lot of bioactive peptides, vitamins, and trace minerals including calcium and magnesium. Mold contamination of milk and aflatoxin formation are major concerns in the food industry. One of the primary tasks of the food safety and public health sectors is to ensure that the population receives safe animal products. Given these considerations, the current investigation attempted to examine into mold contamination of retailed raw milk from cattle, buffaloes, and sheep. Furthermore, the total aflatoxins in the analyzed samples were estimated, and their potential health risks were explored further. The obtained results revealed that cattle milk had the highest mold contamination, followed by buffalo and sheep milk, with 60%, 40%, and 35%, respectively. In the current study, the identification of distinct mold species indicated four mold genera recovered from the milk samples, namely Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Fusarium spp. Aspergillus spp. was the most prevalent mold genera isolated from the milk samples of cattle, sheep, and buffaloes, with 34%, 13.2%, and 11.3%, respectively. The mean total aflatoxins (ppb) levels in the milk samples tested were 5.05±0.25 (cattle), 4.22±0.18 (buffaloes), and 3.1±0.11 (sheep), respectively. In conclusion, mold contamination was found in retailed raw milk from cattle, buffaloes, and sheep in Zagazig, Egypt. Aflatoxin was found in several samples. As a result, efficient heat treatment of milk to pasteurization temperatures and avoidance of raw milk consumption are strongly advised.