2013 European aflatoxin contamination explained

In February–March 2013 several European countries, including Romania,[1] Serbia,[2] [3] Croatia[4] [5] reported nationwide contamination of milk for human consumption (and possibly of derivative products) with aflatoxins. The details are still scarce.

It was reported in March that feed originating from Serbia and imported in the Netherlands and Germany was contaminated.[6] It was also reported in March that tests revealed contamination in milk produced by two Dutch farms.[7] [8] Milk in Germany was also tested but so far is reported as not tainted.[9] Nevertheless, Russia announced it would ban imports from the German farms that received contaminated feed.[10] On March 20, Romanian farmers dumped milk in protest after the government banned milk from five farms, which remain unnamed.[11] Danone Romania also withdrew some 75 tons of milk products from the shelves.[12] [13]

The European Commissions' Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has reported 10 notifications of aflatoxin B1 in maize of European origin since the last maize harvest in autumn 2012. In the 10 years prior to the last harvest—between 2001 and 2011—a total of nine cases of aflatoxins were reported in maize. Aflatoxins have been mainly an "import problem" up to now. However, global warming is increasingly affecting the mycotoxin map in Europe, producing "tropical toxins" within Europe's borders.[14]

In Serbia the contamination turned into a political scandal after the government raised the internal milk contamination standards to tenfold of those from the EU.[15] This higher limit however is the one practiced in the United States and two-thirds of the world.[16] [17]

On February 22, The Iowa Department of Agriculture found elevated Aflatoxin concentrations in dog food manufactured at a Pro-Pet facility in Kansas City, KS. The corn component of the dog food was reportedly contaminated with aflatoxins, though the contributing corn load passed screening at the facility.[18] [19] There are no reports of milk infestation in Iowa.[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Romanian authorities recall aflatoxin-tainted milk from market. ACT Media .
  2. Web site: B92 – News – Aflatoxin regulations to be harmonized with EU standards. 2013-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20130502145144/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2013. 2013-05-02. dead.
  3. News: Balkan States to Step Up Food Control on Aflatoxin Scare. Bloomberg.com . 5 March 2013 . www.bloomberg.com.
  4. Web site: Reports of cancer-causing toxin in milk triggers health scare in the Balkans. 2019-01-26. 2013-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512175450/http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Reports+cancercausing+toxin+milk+triggers+health+scare+Balkans/7984225/story.html. dead.
  5. Web site: Serbian dairy farmers dump milk in streets in protest – NZweek. 2013-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20130303172226/http://www.nzweek.com/world/serbian-dairy-farmers-dump-milk-in-streets-in-protest-51004/. 2013-03-03. dead.
  6. Web site: EU: Feed contaminated with Aflatoxin. 2013-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313125111/http://www.allaboutfeed.net/Process-Management/Feed-Safety/2013/3/EU-Aflatoxin-contaminated-feed-1196477W/. 2013-03-13. dead.
  7. Web site: Second tanker of contaminated milk found – DutchNews.nl. 6 March 2013.
  8. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8156490.html Aflatoxin detected in milk from two Dutch dairy farmer – People's Daily Online
  9. News: Germany tests milk in carcinogen scare. Josie Le. Blond. 3 March 2013. The Guardian.
  10. Web site: Russia bans imports from some German companies - KyivPost. 5 March 2013.
  11. Web site: EUROPE ONLINE. europe online publishing house gmbh -. europeonline-magazine.eu. en.europeonline-magazine.eu. 2013-03-20. 2022-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20220902200156/http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/romanian-farmers-spill-milk-in-protest-at-aflatoxin-ban_271672.html. dead.
  12. Web site: Danone retira produtos suspeitos de contaminação com aflatoxina. 18 March 2013. 20 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130321052147/http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/503/internacional/danone-retira-do-mercado-cancro-produtos-lacteos-aflatoxina-tvi24/1430663-4073.html. 21 March 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: Testing on Danone products in Romania shows safe for consumption after milk toxin scare - Romania Insider. Romania. Insider. 20 March 2013. 20 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130513115341/http://www.romania-insider.com/testing-on-danone-products-in-romania-shows-safe-for-consumption-after-milk-toxin-scare/77881/. 13 May 2013. dead.
  14. Web site: Romer Labs - Making the World's Food Safer - Detail . www.romerlabs.com. 2013-03-19. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191212/http://www.romerlabs.com/en/company/latest-news/detail/article/aflatoxins-pose-new-risk-to-european-maize-production. dead.
  15. News: Milch-Skandal: Grenzwerte erhöht, Problem gelöst. Thomas. Roser. 6 March 2013. Die Zeit.
  16. Web site: So gefährlich ist das Schimmelpilz-Gift. 1 March 2013.
  17. Web site: Serbian Scandal Highlights Fungal Poison Danger. Steve. Baragona.
  18. News: Dog food recall underscores toxic danger in drought-hit U.S. corn. 25 February 2013. Reuters. Ingwersen. Carey Gillam.
  19. Web site: Hy-Vee issues recall of several dog food products due to aflatoxin. www.theglobaldispatch.com.
  20. Web site: Testing for aflatoxin in milk ends. 4 March 2013. Radio Iowa.

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