A method for extracting aflatoxin IM, from milk is proposed in which the use of disposable Extrelut clean-up columns simplifies the analysis considerably in comparison with existing methods. The quantitative determination is based on onedimensional thin-layer chromatography and fluorescence densitometric measurement. The detection limit is 5 ppt (parts per 10") in milk and the recovery is 78&4x at a level of 50 ppt. iNTRODUCfION It is well known that a variety of nut products can be contaminated with highly carcino_genic aflatoxins, the metabolites of several fungi such as Aspergillus flaws and A. parasiticus.
Ground peanuts and extracted ground nut meal from oil refineries are mainly used for mixing with milk cattle feed. Approximately 1 y0 or even more of the ori_ginal atlatoxin B, content in the diet is excreted as aflatoxin M, in the milk'-3.~ This metabolite has almost a similar carcinogenity to that of aflatoxin Br towards animalsJ-6 and hence its presence in milk is undesirable.
* Throughout this articIe the American trillion (lWr) is meant.
* For fluid milk as well as for powdered milk it is essential fo adjust the pH with a glaelectrode to 4.6 & 0.05 in order to obtain a quantitative precipitation of the proteins.