Determination of Ochratoxin A Residues in Some Animal and Plant Milk Products

Milk and milk products are considered major foods for all ages in humans. They represent primary sources for protein, fat and minerals. Ochratoxins are fungal secondary metabolites which are produced either due to fungal growth in many food ingredients such as cereals or in animal feed and subsequently excreted in animal by-products including milk and milk products. Ochratoxins have public health concern due to their nephrotoxic and carcinogenic effects. Thus, this study was designed to determine the residual concentrations of Ochratoxin A (OTA) using Flurometer in some marketed dairy products in Zagazig City, Egypt. The examined dairy products included pasteurized cow's milk, dried skimmed milk, baby milk formula and wheat milk groats (Cerelac). Ochratoxin A was detected in all the examined samples with different concentrations. The results declared that all pasteurized cow's milk samples and 80% of wheat milk groats had OTA levels which exceeded the maximum permissible limit (5 ng/g) recommended by World Health Organization. Calculation of the estimated daily intake for four age groups (babies, children, adolescents and adults) was carried out. It could be concluded that continuous screening of dairy products' content of OTA is essential to minimize the public health hazards of such toxin.