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Milk containing Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) poses a serious health risk to consumers. Present study was undertaken to determine levels of AFM1 in 146 milk and value added dairy products sold in retail markets of Chhattisgarh, India using HPLC coupled with fluorescence detector. A total of 52 samples (35.6%) were found to contain AFM1 with overall concentrations ranging from nd − 2.608 µg/L. The contamination levels were higher in non-fermented milk products than fermented milk products samples, although this difference was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). AFM1 concentrations above maximum permissible limits established by the European Commission were found in 94.2% of positive samples. Health risk assessments ascertained that the estimated daily intakes for AFM1 is higher than the established tolerable daily intakes for both adults and children (Hazard Index > 1), there by implying a potentially high risk to consumer's health. Current investigation provides valuable information regarding contamination of raw as well as value added milk products sold in Indian markets. Therefore, to protect consumer's health and promote dairy trade; there is an urgent need to increase farmer's knowledge on good storage practices of feed and fodder. Further, stringent enforcement of food safety regulations is imperative to safeguard and promote human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out with the objectives to determine the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk and identification of associated risk factors from three different types of animal farming systems. A total of 189 pooled raw milk samples were tested for AFM1 with enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) as screening and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) as confirmatory techniques. AFM1 was found positive in 58% pooled milk samples with the mean level of 0.917 µg/L, while 50.8% and 36.5% samples were found above the legal limits set by European Commission (EC) and Food safety and standard authority of India (FSSAI), respectively for AFM1 in milk. Among all investigated risk factors, feeding of readymade concentrate feed and leftover household cereals, longer feed storage duration and feed storage quality were found significantly associated with presence of AFM1 in farm milk. High prevalence as well as levels of AFM1 in farm milk poses a health risk to the consumers especially children. Therefore, efforts are urgently required to create awareness among dairy farmers about aflatoxins contamination of feed and milk, to improve farm management practices and to control AFM1 level in milk below the legal limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic residues in chicken meat pose health risks to consumers and affect the economics of the poultry industry due to an export ban. The present cross-sectional study aimed to determine the occurrence of antibiotic residues in marketed chicken meat collected under different agro-climatic conditions in Chhattisgarh, India, and assess human health risks by Monte Carlo Simulation. Analyses of 336 chicken meat samples by validated high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that 147 (43.7%) were found positive for antibiotic residues and 60 (17.8%) exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in the mean levels of antibiotic residue detected among different agro-climatic zones. Antibiotic residues were more frequently detected in chicken meat samples from the Northern hills (50.8%), followed by the Chhattisgarh plain (42.8%), and the Bastar plateau (37.5%). The mean probabilistic estimated daily intake (EDI: μg/kg body weight/day) of antibiotic residues among the consumers due to consumption of chicken meat was between 0.066 and 0.166. Among the different age groups of consumers, the quantities of antibiotic residues consumed per day through chicken meat were higher in "age group 1'. The Hazard quotient (HQ) value of individual antibiotics followed the order of enrofloxacin > ciprofloxacin > tetracycline > sulfamethazine > oxytetracycline. Higher HQ values were noted for age group 1 and enrofloxacin showed the highest HQ among all the antibiotics. The HQ values of individual antibiotics were reported to be negligible in toxicological health risk for adults and children. However, values for children are on the higher side. Hence, current findings highlight the importance of vigilant antibiotic monitoring, as well as farmer education programmes to encourage good poultry farming practices and adherence to withdrawal periods for antibiotics, in order to meet food safety standards and protect human health. • HPLC-PDA for the detection of antibiotic residues in chicken meat. • HAC and PCA used to determine the predominant antibiotic residues. • Deterministic and probabilistic models were used for health risk assessment. • Toxicological health risks to children were calculated on the higher side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]