article · Toxins
Aflatoxin M1 contamination in raw milk poses serious health risks and causes economic losses. A study evaluated the capacity of different bentonites, designated HAFR 1 to 4, to bind and remove this toxin from raw milk, alongside assessing their impact on milk nutritional quality. Among the tested milks, goat milk exhibited the highest initial aflatoxin concentration. Applying bentonites at doses of 0.5 and 1 gram demonstrated concentration-dependent and time-dependent decontamination over a twelve-hour period. Bentonite HAFR 3 performed best, achieving full removal in buffer solution and leaving residual aflatoxin levels of just 1.5 nanograms per litre in milk after twelve hours, representing up to 100 percent adsorption. Treatment with HAFR 3 and 4 also altered milk composition, increasing fat, protein, and non-fat solids whilst reducing lactose levels. Analytical imaging confirmed bentonite as an effective binder for milk decontamination.
Aflatoxins are toxic compounds that threaten consumer health and lead to substantial losses across dairy supply chains. Demonstrating that a clay material like bentonite can almost entirely strip aflatoxin M1 from contaminated raw milk offers a potential method for improving food safety. Understanding how treatment alters milk components such as protein, fat, and sugars is equally crucial for maintaining nutritional and processing standards.
This work identifies bentonite, particularly the HAFR 3 formulation, as an applied decontamination agent for dairy processors and farmers dealing with mycotoxin-contaminated milk. Because testing remains at the laboratory scale across buffer and raw milk samples, the approach is early-stage research. Developing practical commercial applications will require establishing scalable processing systems, assessing regulatory compliance for food contact materials, and managing observed shifts in nutritional metrics such as reduced lactose.
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The existence of aflatoxin M<sub>1</sub> (AFM<sub>1</sub>) in raw milk results in economic losses and public health risks. This research aims to examine the capability of bentonite to adsorb and/or eliminate AFM<sub>1</sub> from various raw milk types. In addition, the effects of numerous bentonites (HAFR 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the nutritional characteristics of the milk were studied. Our findings revealed that goat milk had the highest value of AFM<sub>1</sub> (490.30 ng/L) in comparison to other milks. AFM<sub>1</sub> adsorption was influenced by applying bentonite (0.5 and 1 g) in a concentration-dependent manner for different time intervals (from 0 to 12 h). The percentage of AFM<sub>1</sub> reached the maximum adsorption level after 12 h to 100, 98.5 and 98% for bentonites HAFR 3, 1 and 2, respectively. HAFR 3 (1 g bentonite) presented higher adsorption efficiency than other bentonites used in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and milk. Residual levels of AFM<sub>1</sub> reached their lowest values of 0 and 1.5 ng/L while using HAFR 3 in PBS and milk, respectively. With regard to the influence of bentonite on the nutritional characteristics of milk, there was an increase in fat, protein and solid non-fat ratio while using HAFR 3 and 4, yet decreased lactose in comparison with the control. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy both identified bentonites as superior AFM<sub>1</sub> binders. The results demonstrated that bentonite, particularly HAFR 3, was the most effective adsorbent and could thus be a promising candidate for the decontamination of AFM<sub>1</sub> in milk.
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DOI: 10.3390/toxins15020107
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