Aflatoxin M1 in Albanian pasteurized milk: Occurrence, regulatory compliance, and human health risk assessment

University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Blvd. Zogu 1, 1009 Tirana, Albania

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Abstract

Milk and dairy products represent indispensable nutritional components in the human diet, particularly in Albania, where daily milk intake is widespread. Among natural food contaminants, mycotoxins are of special public health relevance owing to their chronic dietary exposure potential. This study investigated the occurrence and exposure risk of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), in commercially available cow milk in Tirana, Albania, during the autumn and winter seasons of 2025–2026. A total of 76 milk samples were analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Fluorescence Detection (HPLC-FLD). Detected AFM1 concentrations ranged from the limit of detection (LOD) to 248 ng/L, with a mean of 145 ng/L. AFM1 was found in 59.5% of samples, and 17.1% surpassed the EU maximum residue limit (MRL) of 50 ng/L. Dietary exposure estimates, including the Estimated Daily Intake, Hazard Index, Margin of Exposure, and cancer risk indicators, point to an elevated risk for the adult Albanian population. These results emphasize the critical importance of continuous AFM1 surveillance and upstream control of AFB1 contamination in animal feed.