Trends in Aflatoxin M₁ Global Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Study

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Toxicology
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a toxic fungal metabolite found in contaminated milk and dairy products.
• Consumption of AFM1-contaminated food presents serious health risks, potentially leading to fatal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1).
• To identify trends, key research areas, influential journals, and global collaboration patterns in AFM1 research.
• To provide a roadmap for future research and inform management strategies in the dairy industry and public health.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 679 documents retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database (1970-2022).
• Analysis of publication year, citations, languages, research areas, countries, affiliations, funding agencies, journals, and keywords.
• Utilized VOSviewer software (v1.6.18) for network and theme analysis.

Main Results:

• Food Control journal published the most articles (540) on AFM1.
• The USA was the most productive country and led in co-authorship collaborations.
• Significant growth in global AFM1 research observed over the past two decades, with detailed analysis of top journals, authors, and keywords.

Conclusions:

• Bibliometric assessment provides insights into the historical development of AFM1 research.
• Findings can guide future research directions and enhance management practices for dairy safety and public health.
• Identified trends support informed decision-making in territorial, healthcare, and dairy sectors.