Comparison of aflatoxin M1 content of ice CREAM and milk ice products produced in different seasons

Aflatoxins B1 and G1 in cereals consumed by milk-producing animals are excreted as aflatoxins M1 and M2 in the milk of animals. The presence of aflatoxin B1 in animal feed and subsequent exposure to lactating animals leads to contamination of milk with the hydroxyl metabolite, aflatoxin M1. Aflatoxins B1 and M1 type mycotoxins are classified as Group I human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Different amounts of aflatoxins in animal feeds in different seasons change the amount of AFM1 in dairy products. Studies have shown that winter milk and dairy products contain higher aflatoxin M1 than other seasons. Studies on the literature have mostly focused on evaluating the AFM1 contents of milk, yogurt and cheese, and studies on the AFM1 content of ice cream, a dairy product, are quite limited. In this study, the aflatoxin M1 content of ice creams produced in different seasons will be analyzed using the appropriate ELISA kit to evaluate the situation in different seasons of the milk and dairy ice cream in our country, the amount of aflatoxin M1. Ice cream and milk ice samples produced in 4 different seasons from 10 different brands, which are sold and frequently consumed in hypermarkets in Ankara, will be provided. At the end of the study, considering the consumption of fresh fodder in summer and spring seasons and dry feed in winter, it is predicted that ice creams and milk ice products produced in summer and spring seasons contain less aflatoxin M1 than those produced in winter.