Review on aflatoxins in food and feed: sources of human exposure and control

Aflatoxins are ubiquitous contaminants of food and feed produced by some Aspergillus spp. The effects of these toxins vary from acute, including rapid death, to chronic, like hepatocellular carcinoma. They also affect animal health and productions and cause economic losses in the agriculture industry. Among foodstuffs originating from animal production, the major source of human exposure to aflatoxins are dairy products. In this review we discuss the following arguments: nature, synthesis, absorption, elimination and carry-over of aflatoxins; aflatoxicosis in man and animals and main cases of aflatoxicosis in the world; the main sources of human exposure to aflatoxins and contamination of feeds and foods of animal and vegetal origin; contamination of milk and possible strategies to prevent the contamination of dairy products