Risk Assessment/Risk Management Aflatoxin M1

Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are mycotoxins produced by three species of Aspergillus. It predominantly contaminates maize and groundnuts and their products. Aflatoxins M1 and M2 are hydroxylated metabolites that may be found in milk and milk products from livestock eating contaminated feed. Aflatoxin B1 is the most frequently present mycotoxin and the most toxicologically potent of the aflatoxins. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that naturally occurring aflatoxins are carcinogenic in humans. Experimental and epidemiology studies provide evidence that aflatoxins are capable of inducing liver cancer in most animal species. Some evidencethat humans are at substantially lower risk than animal test speciesEvidence that suggests aflatoxins pose risk only in the presence of other factors such as Hepatitis B virus infection The conclusions of JECFA regarding carcinogenic potency are contingent upon the dynamics of Hepatitis B virus infection in a human population. The proper risk management is to control and monitor and find effective ways to reduce or eliminate this toxin from milk products. This report is collective effort of proper risk assessment of toxin and consequently implementation of most effective risk management to eliminate the toxin.