View source for Chemistry:2013 European aflatoxin contamination

In February–March 2013 several European countries, including Romania,<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://actmedia.eu/daily/romanian-authorities-recall-aflatoxin-tainted-milk-from-market/44811|title=Romanian authorities recall aflatoxin-tainted milk from market|first=ACTMedia - Romanian Business|last=News|website=actmedia.eu}}</ref> Serbia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2013&mm=03&dd=07&nav_id=85046|title=B92 - News - Aflatoxin regulations to be harmonized with EU standards<!-- Bot generated title -->|publisher=|access-date=2013-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502145144/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2013|archive-date=2013-05-02|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-03-05/balkan-states-to-step-up-food-control-on-aflatoxin-scare|title=Balkan States to Step Up Food Control on Aflatoxin Scare|publisher=|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> Croatia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Reports+cancercausing+toxin+milk+triggers+health+scare+Balkans/7984225/story.html|title=Reports of cancer-causing toxin in milk triggers health scare in the Balkans<!-- Bot generated title -->|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzweek.com/world/serbian-dairy-farmers-dump-milk-in-streets-in-protest-51004/|title=Serbian dairy farmers dump milk in streets in protest - NZweek<!-- Bot generated title -->|publisher=|access-date=2013-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303172226/http://www.nzweek.com/world/serbian-dairy-farmers-dump-milk-in-streets-in-protest-51004/|archive-date=2013-03-03|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> reported nationwide contamination of milk for human consumption (and possibly of derivative products) with [[Chemistry:Aflatoxin|aflatoxin]]s. The details are still scarce.

It was reported in March that feed originating from Serbia and imported in the Netherlands and {{wipe|Germany}} was contaminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutfeed.net/Process-Management/Feed-Safety/2013/3/EU-Aflatoxin-contaminated-feed-1196477W/|title=EU: Feed contaminated with Aflatoxin|publisher=}}</ref> It was also reported in March that tests revealed contamination in milk produced by two Dutch farms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/03/second_tanker_of_contaminated.php|title=Second tanker of contaminated milk found - DutchNews.nl|date=6 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref><ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8156490.html Aflatoxin detected in milk from two Dutch dairy farmer - People's Daily Online<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Milk in Germany was also tested but so far is reported as not tainted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/03/germany-tests-milk-carcinogen-scare|title=Germany tests milk in carcinogen scare|first=Josie Le|last=Blond|date=3 March 2013|publisher=|via=The Guardian}}</ref> Nevertheless, {{wipe|Russia}} announced it would ban imports from the German farms that received contaminated feed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/russia-and-former-soviet-union/russia-bans-imports-from-some-german-companies-321281.html|title=Russia bans imports from some German companies - KyivPost|date=5 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref> On March 20, Romanian farmers dumped milk in protest after the government banned milk from five farms, which remain unnamed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/romanian-farmers-spill-milk-in-protest-at-aflatoxin-ban_271672.html|title=EUROPE ONLINE|first=europe online publishing house gmbh -|last=europeonline-magazine.eu|website=en.europeonline-magazine.eu}}</ref> Danone Romania also withdrew some 75 tons of milk products from the shelves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/503/internacional/danone-retira-do-mercado-cancro-produtos-lacteos-aflatoxina-tvi24/1430663-4073.html|title=Danone retira produtos suspeitos de contaminação com aflatoxina|date=18 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romania-insider.com/testing-on-danone-products-in-romania-shows-safe-for-consumption-after-milk-toxin-scare/77881/|title=Testing on Danone products in Romania shows safe for consumption after milk toxin scare  - Romania Insider|first=Romania|last=Insider|date=20 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref>

The European Commissions' Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has reported 10 notifications of aflatoxin B1 in maize of European origin since the last maize harvest in autumn 2012. In the 10 years prior to the last harvest—between 2001 and 2011—a total of nine cases of aflatoxins were reported in maize. Aflatoxins have been mainly an "import problem" up to now. However, global warming is increasingly affecting the mycotoxin map in Europe, producing "tropical toxins" within Europe's borders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romerlabs.com/en/company/latest-news/detail/article/aflatoxins-pose-new-risk-to-european-maize-production|title=Page not found|website=www.romerlabs.com}}</ref>

In Serbia the contamination turned into a political scandal after the government raised the internal milk contamination standards to tenfold of those from the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeit.de/wissen/umwelt/2013-03/milch-schimmelpilzgift-aflatoxine-serbien|title=Milch-Skandal: Grenzwerte erhöht, Problem gelöst|first=Thomas|last=Roser|date=6 March 2013|publisher=|via=Die Zeit}}</ref> This higher limit however is the one practiced in the United States and two-thirds of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stern.de/gesundheit/futtermittel-skandal-so-gefaehrlich-ist-das-schimmelpilz-gift-1978347.html|title=So gefährlich ist das Schimmelpilz-Gift|date=1 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/serbian-scandal-highlights-fungal-poison-danger/1613913.html|title=Serbian Scandal Highlights Fungal Poison Danger|first=Steve|last=Baragona|publisher=}}</ref>

On February 22, The Iowa Department of Agriculture found elevated Aflatoxin concentrations in dog food manufactured at a Pro-Pet facility in Kansas City, KS. The corn component of the dog food was reportedly contaminated with aflatoxins, though the contributing corn load passed screening at the facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-corn-aflatoxin-idUSL1N0BP9SP20130225|title=Dog food recall underscores toxic danger in drought-hit U.S. corn|date=25 February 2013|publisher=|via=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/hy-vee-issues-recall-of-several-dog-food-products-due-to-aflatoxin-58717/|title=Hy-Vee issues recall of several dog food products due to aflatoxin|website=www.theglobaldispatch.com}}</ref> There are no reports of milk infestation in Iowa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioiowa.com/2013/03/04/testing-for-aflatoxin-in-milk-ends/|title=Testing for aflatoxin in milk ends|date=4 March 2013|website=Radio Iowa}}</ref>

== See also ==
* 2013 meat adulteration scandal

== References ==
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{{Consumer Food Safety}}

[[Category:Mycotoxins|aflatoxin]]

{{Sourceattribution|2013 European aflatoxin contamination|1}}