By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Life Science Weekly — Aflatoxin M1 is the highly toxic byproduct of the metabolism of aflatoxin B1 following consumption by the dairy cow. Aflatoxin B1 is introduced through feed rations which contain a contaminated grain or forage and is converted into aflatoxin M1 at a rate of 1-2\%. Classified as a Group 2B Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and regulated at extremely low levels by the EU, aflatoxin M1 may not exceed 50 ppt in milk for adult human consumption, while the limit is even lower for infants and children (25 ppt). The US FDA sets the legal limit for aflatoxin M1 at 0.5 ppb for fluid milk products (see also Waters Corporation).
“Afla M1-V will help global dairy producers to ensure safe, nutritious milk products worldwide, and at the same time prevent costly product rejection by importing countries due to strict regulatory limits,” commented Marjorie Radlo-Zandi, General Manager, Director of Operations at VICAM.
“This rapid, simple test kit is designed for dairy farms, processors and laboratories who require aflatoxin M1 data that is sensitive enough to comply with the EU regulation for adult consumption (50ppt) and the limit of 500 ppt set by the US, Brazil and China,” added Dr. Stephen Powers, Director of R&D for VICAM.
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring chemical byproducts of ubiquitous mold species which are natural inhabitants of crop soils. Severe rain or drought can encourage mycotoxin production and, once released, mycotoxins are difficult to manage and virtually impossible to destroy. The USDA, FDA, EU, and other international government agencies impose specific regulations and guidelines for acceptable levels of mycotoxins. Producers and exporters use on-site and laboratory testing to ensure regulatory compliance and to protect human and animal health from illnesses associated with mycotoxins, including cancer and feed refusal in animals. About VICAM, A Waters Business (www.vicam.com)
VICAM is a world-leading provider of mycotoxin testing solutions. Since 1985, VICAM has been dedicated to developing USDA- and AOAC-approved rapid tests for mycotoxins. VICAM’s mycotoxin test kits offer a choice of rapid qualitative screening and quantitative test methods for a wide variety of mycotoxins. Around the world, VICAM products are used with confidence by customers who trust our commitment to extending the value of those products with unmatched service and support. We guarantee satisfaction with expert technical assistance and top-of-the-line customer care through a global scientific and distribution network that develops, markets, sells, and services our products in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.vicam.com or call +1.508.482.4935. About Waters Corporation (www.waters.com)
For more than 50 years, Waters Corporation has created business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations by delivering practical and sustainable innovation to enable significant advancements in such areas as healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality, consumer products and high-value added chemicals worldwide.
Pioneering a connected portfolio of separations science, laboratory information management, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis, Waters technology breakthroughs and laboratory solutions provide an enduring platform for customer success.
With revenue of $1.9 billion in 2013, Waters is driving scientific discovery and operational excellence for customers worldwide.
Waters. VICAM and Vertu are registered trademarks of Waters Corporation. Afla M1-V is a trademark of Waters Corporation. Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140701005089/en/
Keywords for this news article include: USDA, Aflatoxins, Mycotoxins, Agriculture, Biological Toxins, Waters Corporation.
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