Study on aflatoxin M1 in Cypriot cow's milk

A recent five-year scientific study has evaluated the safety of cow's milk produced in the Republic of Cyprus regarding the presence of aflatoxin M1. Conducted by researchers Artemis P. Louppis, Michalis S. Konstantinou, and Michael G. Kontominas in collaboration with the University of Ioannina, the study analyzed 1,197 samples. The results, published in the scientific journal Foods, indicate that only two samples exceeded the established European safety limits, suggesting that local milk production is generally safe.

Despite these reassuring results, the research highlights that children are at a higher risk of exposure when considering the ratio of milk consumption to body weight. Researchers emphasize that while these findings do not warrant changes to current milk consumption recommendations, they do point to an urgent need to minimize aflatoxin levels at the source, particularly within animal feed supplies. This project represents the first systematic, long-term monitoring effort of its kind in Cyprus, providing essential data for food safety monitoring and future quality control strategies in the dairy sector.