Aflatoxins in the food and feed chain: from maize to milk

Abstract

Contamination of the food chain and animal feed with mycotoxins in Serbia is causing increasing concern due to previous, current, and predicted climate change. More and more often recorded drought conditions represent the greatest challenge, in the first place for the aflatoxins occurrence. In Serbia, during the previous decade, frequent occurrences of aflatoxins were recorded, first of all in maize and maize products, and then in milk and dairy products. All of the above affected: the quality, safety and yield of maize; large economic losses; mismatches between Serbian and European Union regulations for maximum levels of aflatoxins; confusion among consumers, etc. Analysis of maize, milk, and dairy products in the period from October 2022 to May 2023 indicates that Serbia again faced a significant problem related to aflatoxins occurrence. The frequent presence of aflatoxins in maize and milk is of great concern for contamination of the whole food and feed chain since maize represents the basic food for dairy animals, while milk and dairy products represent the main foodstuffs in human nutrition, especially for children. Since the aflatoxins problem in Serbia has lasted for more than a decade, there is a need to implement the necessary measures to improve resistance to the effects of climate change.