Aflatoxin M1 contamination in raw milk and its association with herd types in the ten provinces of Southern China

The incidence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in raw milk and its association with herd types was investigated in the ten provinces of Southern China in 2018. A total of 797 raw milk samples were collected from Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Anhui provinces. The herd types were classified according to their characteristics. Among the 797 samples, 401 were owned by large-scale farms (herd size >500 cows, for dairy cow farming), 303 were owned by milk processing plants (herd size >500 cows, for dairy cow farming + milk processing), and 93 were owned by small farm cooperatives (herd size ≤500 cows, for dairy cow farming). The results revealed the presence of AFM1 in 94 of the 797 samples (11.80%). None of them was above 500 ng/L (Chinese and US limit standard), whereas 0.88% were above 50 ng/L (EU limit standard). The AFM1 concentrations in samples non-compliant with the EU standard were 52, 61, 88, 89.5, 164, 240, and 486 ng/L, respectively. It is important to note that samples exceeding the EU limit were mainly found in the area of Jiangsu and Guangxi provinces, and the herd type of milk processing plants. Hence, it is necessary to monitor and enforce the regulatory compliance of AFM1 levels in the raw milk from these specific areas and herd type.HighlightsA total of 797 raw milk samples from three herd types, were collected from ten provinces of Southern China in 2018.Ninety-four of the 797 raw milk samples (11.80%) were positive for AFM1, and none of them was above the Chinese and US legal limit, only 0.88% of samples were above the EU limit.All of the exceed samples defined by EU limit were found in the area of Jiangsu and Guangxi provinces and belonged to milk processing plants. A total of 797 raw milk samples from three herd types, were collected from ten provinces of Southern China in 2018. Ninety-four of the 797 raw milk samples (11.80%) were positive for AFM1, and none of them was above the Chinese and US legal limit, only 0.88% of samples were above the EU limit. All of the exceed samples defined by EU limit were found in the area of Jiangsu and Guangxi provinces and belonged to milk processing plants.

2018年，针对中国南方十省份开展了一项调查研究，旨在探究生鲜乳中黄曲霉毒素M1（aflatoxin M1, AFM1）的污染状况及其与牧场类型的关联。本次研究共采集797份生鲜乳样品，采样覆盖浙江、江西、江苏、湖南、湖北、海南、广西、广东、福建及安徽共十省份。研究依据经营特征对牧场类型进行分类：其中401份样品来自规模化奶牛场（存栏奶牛>500头，仅开展奶牛养殖业务），303份来自乳企一体化牧场（存栏奶牛>500头，兼具奶牛养殖与乳品加工业务），剩余93份来自小型农场合作社（存栏奶牛≤500头，仅开展奶牛养殖业务）。
检测结果显示，797份样品中共有94份（11.80%）检出AFM1。所有阳性样品的AFM1浓度均未超出中、美两国设定的500 ng/L限值标准；另有0.88%的样品超出欧盟制定的50 ng/L限值标准。超出欧盟限值的样品浓度分别为52、61、88、89.5、164、240及486 ng/L。值得注意的是，所有符合欧盟超标判定标准的样品均集中分布于江苏省与广西壮族自治区，且均来自乳企一体化牧场类型。因此，针对上述区域及该类牧场的生鲜乳，需加强AFM1水平的监管监测与合规性核查。

研究亮点
1. 2018年从中国南方十省份采集了覆盖三类牧场类型的797份生鲜乳样品。
2. 797份生鲜乳样品中共有94份（11.80%）检出AFM1，所有阳性样品均未超出中、美法定限值，仅0.88%的样品超出欧盟限值。
3. 所有超出欧盟限值的样品均来自江苏、广西两省，且均属于乳企一体化牧场类型。
4. 2018年从中国南方十省份采集了覆盖三类牧场类型的797份生鲜乳样品。
5. 797份生鲜乳样品中共有94份（11.80%）检出AFM1，所有阳性样品均未超出中、美法定限值，仅0.88%的样品超出欧盟限值。
6. 所有超出欧盟限值的样品均来自江苏、广西两省，且均属于乳企一体化牧场类型。