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Contamination of human milk with ochratoxin A
C Micco1, M A Ambruzzi, M Miraglia
1Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Laboratorio Alimenti, Rome, Italy.
IARC Scientific Publications
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Ochratoxin A, a food contaminant, was detected in Italian human milk samples. This mycotoxin can transfer from mothers to infants during breastfeeding, posing a potential health risk.
Area of Science:
- Food safety
- Toxicology
- Public health
Background:
- Ochratoxin A is a prevalent mycotoxin found in food and animal feed.
- It enters the human diet through contaminated food sources.
- Human milk can contain Ochratoxin A, enabling mother-to-child transmission during breastfeeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence and levels of Ochratoxin A in human milk samples within Italy.
- To assess the potential dietary exposure of infants to Ochratoxin A via breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was employed for analysis.
- Fifty random human milk samples were collected over a one-year period.
- Quantification of Ochratoxin A levels in the collected samples.
Main Results:
- Ochratoxin A was detected in 9 out of 50 analyzed human milk samples.
- Detected levels ranged from 1.7 to 6.6 ng/ml.
- This indicates a measurable presence of the mycotoxin in the Italian maternal milk supply.
Conclusions:
- Ochratoxin A is present in human milk in Italy, confirming its potential transmission to breastfed infants.
- The findings highlight the importance of monitoring mycotoxin contamination in the food chain.
- Further research is warranted to evaluate the health implications of infant exposure to Ochratoxin A through breast milk.