Aflatoxin M₁ in Brazilian goat milk and health risk assessment

Contamination of goat milk with aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) is a public health concern. This study investigated filamentous fungi in goat feed and quantified AFM₁ in milk samples (n = 108) from goat fed forage and concentrate. Based on the detected AFM₁ concentration, risk assessment analyses were performed concerning the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) for one-year-old children and adults. Filamentous fungi were found in goat feed samples in a range of 3.1 ± 1.9 to 4.2 ± 0.2 log CFU/g. Five genera were identified, to cite Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Acremonium. Aspergillus species comprised A. flavus, A. niger, and A. ochraceus. All goat milk samples were contaminated with AFM₁ (5.60-48.20 ng/L; mean 21.90 ± 10.28 ng/L) in amounts below the limits imposed by regulatory agencies. However, EDI values for AFM₁ through goat milk estimated for one-year-old children were above the Tolerable Daily Intake. The calculated Hazard Index for one-year-old children indicated potential risk of liver cancer due to goat milk consumption. The Margin of Exposure values to AFM₁ in one-year-old children and adults consuming goat milk as the unique milk source indicated increased health risk. Therefore, contamination of goat milk with AFM₁ should be considered a high priority for Brazil's risk management actions.