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Aflatoxin M₁ and Ochratoxin A in Raw Bulk Milk from French Dairy Herds

H. Boudra^*,1, J. Barnouin, S. Dragacci and D. P. Morgavi^*

^* UR1213 Herbivores, and
UR346 Epidemiologie Animale, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Site de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genès-Champanelle, France
Microbial Toxin Unit, French Agency for Food Safety, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France

¹ Corresponding author: hboudra{at}clermont.inra.fr

Mycotoxins in milk are a public health concern and have to be regularly monitored. A survey on the presence of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in raw bulk milk was conducted in 2003 in the northwest of France, the main French milk-producing basin. Randomly selected farms (n = 132) were characterized by a diet based on corn silage and containing a large proportion of on-farm produced cereals, feeding sources that are frequently contaminated by mycotoxins. Farms were surveyed twice in winter and in summer. At each sampling time, a trained surveyor completed a questionnaire recording farm management procedures and production traits. The AFM₁ was found in 3 out of 264 samples but at levels (26 ng/L or less) that are below the European legislation limit of 50 ng/L. Traces of AFM₁ (less than 8 ng/L) were also found in 6 other samples. The OTA was detected in 3 samples also at low levels, 5 to 8 ng/L. Farms that tested positive to the presence of mycotoxins, 12 in total including 6 farms that had traces of AFM₁, differed from negative farms by a more extensive use of total mixed rations, 58 vs. 27%. In addition, the positive farms tended to have lower milk yields. Although the incidence of milk contamination with AFM₁ and OTA at the farm level was low during the period studied, production and management data from the surveyed farms suggest a link between feeding management practices and mycotoxin contamination.

Key Words: mycotoxin • milk safety • French dairy herd • feeding management