Amira I Moussa^1*, Azza MK Sobeih², Ibrahim I Al-Hawary^2,3, Walaa M Elkassas¹ and Radwa Barakat^4,5*

Mycotoxins contamination in milk products represents a major problem for milk industries. Aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) is very stable and resists any heat treatments as pasteurization and sterilization methods. The aim of this study was to determine the level of aflatoxin M₁ in fifty raw milk samples collected from different dairy shops in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate in Egypt. We also evaluated the efficacy of detoxification methods of AFM₁ in milk by using natural clay as Kaolin and Ca-bentonite. The milk survey study revealed that AFM₁ was detected in all the examined raw milk samples with mean value of 10.7±0.89 ppb, which exceeded the Egyptian standard and European Union limit in raw milk. Then we artificially contaminated raw milk samples with AFM₁ standard and then added three different concentrations of Kaolin and Ca- bentonite (5gm, 10gm, 20 gm), separately. The obtained results showed a significant reduction and detoxification in AFM₁ concentration by Kaolin and Ca- bentonite treatments comparing with non-treated milk. The percent AFM₁ detoxification rate by using kaolin and Ca- bentonite clay was 86.1 to 93.3% and 93.7 to 97.7%, respectively without any changes in nutritional constituents of milk. Moreover, the Ca-bentonite clay revealed a tendency to the comprehensive removal of AFM₁ by increasing the quantity of clay added to the tested milk. These results indicate efficacy and safe usage of kaolin and Ca-bentonite clay to detoxification and reduce the amount of AFM₁ in raw milk and consequently; minimize its dangerous effect on the public health.

To Cite This Article: Moussa AI, Sobeih AMK, Al-Hawary II, Elkassas WM and Barakat R, 2020. Efficacy of kaolin and bentonite clay to reduce aflatoxin M₁ content in contaminated milk and effects on milk quality. Pak Vet J, 40(2): 181-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2020.001