Iowa Makes Screening of Milk for Aflatoxin Mandatory
Aflatoxin can sometimes spread through drought-stressed corn. High levels of the toxic compound have been shown to pose cancer risk in animal tests.
The order announced requires milk processors to screen all Grade A and Grade B farm bulk milk pickup tankers and farm can milk loads for aflatoxin on a weekly basis. The order will be effective beginning 31 August 2012 and continuing indefinitely.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said that aflatoxin could be an issue this year due to the historic drought conditions.
"Now that farmers are starting to harvest silage, and corn in some cases, it is appropriate to begin this screening process to make sure our milk supply remains safe," Northey added.
The Department is also instituting a state-wide corn sampling program.
Under guidelines established by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), certain varieties of animal feed can contain an aflatoxin concentration of up to 300 parts per billion (ppb). Foods meant for human consumption must contain less than 20 ppb, while the limit for milk is even lower, at 0.5 ppb.
