Antibiotic residues and mycotoxins in raw milk in Punjab (India): a rising concern for food safety

Abstract

The present study was envisaged with an aim to determine the occurrence of antibiotic residues; enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, penicillin G, sulphamethoxazole and chloramphenicol as well as mycotoxins; aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A in raw milk samples collected from individual animals from dairy farms located in 9 districts of Punjab, India. A total of 168 raw milk samples were collected and analysed using commercially available competitive Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Out of these, 19 (11.3%) and 9 (5.4%) samples were found positive for antibiotic residues and mycotoxins, respectively. The milk samples were positive for enrofloxacin (4.8%), oxytetracycline (3.0%), penicillin G (3.0%) and sulphamethoxazole (0.6%) residues. The percentage of samples found above maximum residue limit established by Europen Union (EU)/Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) were 1.7%, 1.2% and 0.6% for enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and penicillin G residues, respectively. Aflatoxin M1 was detected in 5.4% of monitored milk samples with 1.2% samples exceeded the established maximum levels of EU but were below the maximum levels established by CAC. The occurrence of antibiotic residues and mycotoxins in raw milk samples above maximum limits is a rising concern for food safety due to possibility of health risks to the consumers.