TIRANA, Feb. 26 – Packaged milk produced by two local dairies in Albania has been ordered to be withdrawn from markets after food safety authorities first in neighbouring Kosovo and later in Albania confirmed the presence of toxic and carcinogenic substances known as Aflatoxins. It was the Kosovo Food and veterinary Agency which first identified the dangerous milk, imposing a ban on five foreign dairies which traded their products in Kosovo, among which Albania’s Fast Milk and Primalat.
Following the alarm raised by Kosovo food authorities on February 23, the Albanian Food Authority confirmed on Tuesday the high level of alfatoxin in the two milk brands, demanding their withdrawal from the market until final tests results are announced.
“Preliminary results from tests carried out on Monday in the laboratories of the Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary make us doubtful of alfatoxin concentration above the norms allowed in the European Union in the inspected particles of some Albanian and import companies. These results remain preliminary because the Institute’s lab is not accredited to carry out alfatoxin tests,” said the National Food Authority.
The Authority says they will confirm their preliminary tests results in labs accredited by the EU as neither Kosovo, nor Albania has labs accredited to carry out alfatoxin tests.
Albanian authorities say tests carried out in 2012 into the dairies’ products proved alfatoxin-free.
“We want to clarify the public that different countries allow different levels of alfatoxin. I want to bring the example of the United States where the allowed alfatoxin level is ten times higher than in the EU. And results of the tests show of a rate far lower than that allowed in the United States,” said Artan Gjergji, the head of the National Food Authority.
The European Union sets a limit of 0.050 ֧/kg (microgram per kilogram) for aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products while the United States food safety regulations include a limit of 0.5 ֧/kg.
Immediately after the announcement by the Kosovo Food Agency, the Albanian companies described the test results as tendentious, and aimed at favouring local Kosovo companies arguing that their plants produce milk in the highest standards.
Last weekend, the Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency ordered the withdrawal of milk produced by Albania’s Fast Milk, Croatia’s Dukat, and two Bosnian dairies, Meggle and Zott.
Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro have already taken out of the market milk produced by Dukat and another Croatian diary, Vindija , after analysis in Vienna showed that the amount of M1 in the milk was slightly higher than the legally permitted EU limit.
Speaking at press conference on Wednesday, Health Ministry officials announced they have launched an epidemiological investigation in the areas where the alleged contaminated milk has been traded and taken samples to carry out tests.
“However, to date we have no data which confirm the hypothesis that contaminated milk has been consumed resulting in the appearance of chronic pathologies, including cancer,” said Pellumb Pipero, the director general of health policies at the Ministry of Health.
“We will take the samples to Italy to carry out quality testing, but the epidemiological investigation will continue,” added Pipero.
Alfatoxins
Alfatoxins are mycotoxins of major concern to the dairy industry. Most mycotoxins are found in grain, usually grown in a drought, although they may contaminate pasture grass and occasionally hay. Because alfatoxins are carcinogenic to animals and perhaps humans, they are monitored closely in the food supply. Alfatoxins are the most carcinogenic natural compounds known. Milk that is sold commercially is checked for alfatoxin M1.
At high enough exposure levels, aflatoxins can cause acute toxicity, and potentially death, in mammals, birds and fish, as well as in humans. The liver is the principal organ affected, but high levels of aflatoxin have also been found in the lungs, kidneys, brains and hearts of individuals dying of acute aflatoxicosis.
Unsafe meat
Local media have aired video footage showing that growth-promoting hormones known as Boldenone, banned to food-producing animals both under EU and Albania law, is freely traded in Albanian veterinary pharmacies. According to media reports, the growth-promoting hormone is sold in both in Shkodra and Elbasan vet drugstores, posing a real threat to meat consumers.
Agriculture Ministry officials say they have undertaken controls in pharmaceutical warehouses and will take severe measures against those who trade banned hormone substances.
Boldenone and methylbodenone are anabolic steroids often illegally used as growth promoters in animals for human consumption. Due to their potential health risk in consumers, the use of natural and synthetic hormones is banned in the European Union (Directive 88/146/EEC).
Moreover the use of androgenic steroids with anabolic effect to improve athletic performance has been banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other international sports associations (IAAF) since 1974. Therefore, the development of sensitive and robust methods for detecting such hormones is very important both in doping and food safety controls.
