Aflatoxin M 1 and ochratoxin A in baby formulae in Turkey: Occurrence and safety evaluation

Abstract

During 2011, 62 samples of baby formulae were checked for aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) by immunoaffinity column (IAC) clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of the analytical method were 0.005 ?g kg -1 and 0.018 ?g kg -1 for AFM 1 and 0.006 ?g kg -1 and 0.021 ?g kg -1 for OTA, respectively. The recovery of AFM 1 from formulae ranged between 84.27% and 88.21% (RSD = 3.54-6.18%), while the mean recoveries of OTA varied from 79.21% to 86.38% (RSD = 4.47-7.11%).Aflatoxin M 1 was detected in five (8%) of formula samples, but at levels below the European legislation limit of 0.025 ?g kg -1, with concentrations ranging from 0.016 to 0.022 ?g kg -1 (mean level: 0.018 ?g kg -1). Ochratoxin A was detected in 12 out of the 62 samples (19.4%), at levels ranging from 0.017 to 0.184 ?g kg -1 (mean level: 0.103 ?g kg -1). None of the samples exceeded the maximum limit for OTA set by European Commission Regulation (0.5 ?g kg -1). The co-occurrence of AFM 1 and OTA was present in only one sample (1.6%). The estimated daily intakes of AFM 1 and OTA through formulae were in the range of 0.08-0.021 ng kg -1 b.w. and 0.034-0.305 ng kg -1 b.w., respectively. On the basis of current knowledge, it can be concluded that there is no considerable risk of AFM 1 and OTA exposure for the Turkish babies and young children. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.