Aflatoxin B1 risk management in Parmigiano Reggiano dairy cow feed

• Main Authors: Giorgia Canestrari, Barbara Ricci, Valentina Pizzamiglio, Alberto Biancardi, Pierluigi Piazza, Giuseppe Merialdi, Giovanni Tosi, Federica Giacometti, Marco Nocetti, Mattia Fustini, Andrea Serraino, Andrea Formigoni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Food Safety
• Subjects: Aflatoxins; Feed; Dairy cows; Parmigiano Reggiano
• Online Access: http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/ijfs/article/view/5291

This study investigated aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in dairy cow feed and the risk management of AFB1 content in concentrates undertaken by feed industries in the <em>Parmigiano Reggiano</em> area. Data on aflatoxin contamination risk management applied in 29 feed industries were collected and the AFB1 content of 70 feed samples was analysed. Data were collected within the framework of a quality control programme promoted by the <em>Parmigiano Reggiano</em> Consortium in 2013 and 2014. Audit results showed that the control procedures to prevent AFB1 contamination mainly focused on maize and its by-products. AFB1 concentration resulted lower than 5 ppb [legal European Union (EU) limit] in all samples; in one out of 70 samples, AFB1 content was 3.8 ppb and in all the other samples it was lower than 3 ppb. Results showed that AFB1 risk management applied by Italian feed industries effectively monitors AFB1 levels in feed below the EU legal limit.