Aflatoxin M1 levels measured in Colombian milk powder samples
What it found
Aflatoxin M1 was found in all 51 milk powder samples bought in Colombia, and more than half were above the legal limit.
Aflatoxin B1 was not found in any sample.
What they found
Aflatoxin M1 in every sample
Aflatoxin M1 was found in all 51 milk powder samples. Levels ranged from 0.20 to 1.19 micrograms per kilogram.
Many samples over limit
About 55% of the samples had aflatoxin M1 above 0.5 micrograms per kilogram. That is the maximum level set by Colombian and European rules.
No aflatoxin B1 found
Aflatoxin B1 was not detected in any of the 51 samples tested.
Estimated daily intake
Based on the contamination found, someone could take in 0.007 to 0.013 micrograms of aflatoxin M1 per day from this milk powder. This is higher than the Latin American average of 0.0035 micrograms per day estimated by an international expert committee.
What the authors conclude
- They found that aflatoxin M1 was present in all tested milk powder samples from the region.
- They note that the estimated daily intake from these products is higher than the regional average.
How it was done
The authors wanted to measure two types of aflatoxin contamination in milk powder sold in stores. They also aimed to estimate how much people might take in by drinking it.
They bought 51 milk powder samples from grocery stores in the Caribbean region of Colombia. They tested each sample for aflatoxin M1 and aflatoxin B1 using lab methods. They then calculated how much aflatoxin M1 a person could take in per day from these products.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work only measured contamination in store-bought samples. It cannot show whether these levels cause health problems in people who drink the milk powder.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Brazil
The paper
- Title
- Aflatoxin M 1 and B 1 in Colombian milk powder and estimated risk exposure
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Marimón Sibaja KV, Gonçalves KDM, Garcia SO, et al (2019). Aflatoxin M 1 and B 1 in Colombian milk powder and estimated risk exposure. Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance. doi:10.1080/19393210.2019.1567611PubMed 30700225DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error