AFLATOXIN RESIDUES iN BACON PIGS

Bacon pigs were fed diets containing 300 and 500 ppb aflatoxin B1 + B2 during a long period (120—231 days). When organs and tissues were examined for residues, sizable amounts of aflatoxin (max. 54 ppb) were detected. Since macroscopic alterations were slight in livers and absent in other organs and tissues, most livers and all other organs and carcasses could have passed meat inspection and been distributed for human consumption. This calls for careful control of animal feed, in order to avoid the use of heavily contaminated batches. Information on aflatoxin residues in food of animal origin has so far been restricted to the excretion of aflatoxins, including aflatoxin M, in the milk of lactating animals. Purchase1 has recently reviewed this aspect extensively. Although aflatoxin has been found in liver and kidney of small laboratory animals after a single dose of aflatoxin, attempts to detect aflatoxin in organs and carcasses of farm animals have mainly been unsuccessful. No aflatoxin residue was found in a pig that died of aflatoxicoses2, or in pigs fed variou