Detection of aflatoxins and novel simple regimes for their detoxification in milk and soft cheese

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to detect AFs in milk and in the most popular cheese samples produced that were sold in New Valley governorate, Egypt. Trials were also carried out to find a simple, available way to counteract AFs in these products. Sixty samples of marketable milk and soft cheese (locally manufactured) were randomly collected from El-kharja markets, New Valley governorate, Egypt. Aflatoxin (AFs) was detected quantitatively in the samples by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. The positive results (tainted with AFs) indicated that 100% of the examined samples have level of Afs that exceed the allowable limit. Furthermore, locally manufactured soft cheese had higher AFs contamination than marketable milk. Additionally, the experimental trials to treat contaminated milk with microwave heating, Mish contaminated samples with lemon, and Kareish cheese with carbonated water revealed 9.4, 43.9, and 54.9% decline in Afs levels, respectively. It could be concluded that examined milk and milk products are frequently contaminated with AFs which exceed the allowable limits and every regimen that was employed to treat the contaminated specimen was helpful.