Mumbai | May 2025 — India’s dairy industry has grown to become the largest in the world by volume. Yet, one of the most silent and dangerous threats to this success story remains largely overlooked: mycotoxin contamination, particularly Aflatoxin M1 in milk. These invisible toxins, passed from contaminated cattle feed into milk, pose serious risks to public health, milk quality, and India’s international trade reputation.
As India aspires to elevate dairy exports and improve domestic food safety, tightening mycotoxin regulation and enforcement is no longer optional—it is essential.
🧬 What Are Mycotoxins and Why Should India Be Concerned?
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by moulds, especially during improper storage of animal feed in humid and warm environments, which are common conditions across India.
In the dairy chain, Aflatoxin B1, present in mouldy feed, is metabolised in the cow’s liver and excreted into milk as Aflatoxin M. This highly carcinogenic substance poses significant health risks, particularly for children, infants, and immunocompromised individuals.
Impact of Aflatoxin M1:
- ✴️ Recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Group 1 carcinogen
- 📉 Causes reduced immunity and productivity in dairy cattle
- 🚫 Can disqualify Indian dairy exports in countries with strict safety limits (e.g., EU, USA)
🧾 FSSAI’s Current Mycotoxin Testing Framework: A Starting Point, But Not Enough
India’s apex food safety body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has prescribed maximum limits for Aflatoxin M1 in milk and other dairy products. According to the Excel data provided from the FSSAI regulatory sheet:
✅ FSSAI Limits for Aflatoxin M1:
| Product | Parameter | FSSAI Limit (µg/kg or ppb) |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (raw, pasteurised, processed) | Aflatoxin M1 | 0.5 µg/kg (0.5 ppb) |
| Cheese and other dairy solids | Aflatoxin M1 | 2.5 µg/kg |
These limits are compliant with Codex Alimentarius standards, which is a positive step. However, implementation remains the bottleneck:
- 🧪 Only a limited number of NABL-accredited labs are equipped to test Aflatoxin M1
- 🐄 No mandatory testing at farm gate or feed procurement levels
- 🔁 Lack of traceability in the unorganised milk sector (which contributes over 60% of the national milk flow)
- 📊 Low awareness among farmers, cooperatives, and even local processors about aflatoxin pathways
🛡️ The Case for Mandatory and Widespread Mycotoxin Testing
With rising urban consumer expectations and increasing global scrutiny over food safety, the Indian dairy industry needs a more comprehensive, enforceable, and transparent approach.
🔍 Benefits of Mycotoxin Testing at Scale:
1. Improved Consumer Health
By screening milk and feed at multiple checkpoints, contaminated products can be identified and stopped before reaching households, thereby protecting vulnerable populations from carcinogenic exposure.
2. Enhanced Milk Quality and Trust
Routine testing boosts confidence in packaged milk and cooperative dairy brands, aiding the transition from informal to formal sector consumption.
3. Better Livestock Health and Productivity
Clean feed reduces toxin stress in animals, resulting in higher milk yields, improved reproductive health, and lower veterinary costs.
4. Compliance with Export Standards
Global dairy buyers (particularly in the EU, ASEAN, and the Middle East) maintain strict aflatoxin M1 thresholds. Ensuring compliance through mandated testing can unlock premium international markets and improve India’s dairy trade balance.
🧭 Policy Recommendations to Address Mycotoxin Risk
To safeguard public health and promote sustainable dairy development, India must evolve its regulatory strategy from a reactive to a proactive approach. Recommended actions include:
- 🧬 Mandate Aflatoxin M1 testing at all central milk procurement and chilling points
- 🏭 Enforce feed quality checks at manufacturing and cooperative levels (especially for maize, cottonseed cake, and groundnut-based feeds)
- 📈 Expand testing infrastructure through public-private partnerships and mobile labs
- 📢 Launch farmer awareness campaigns on feed storage hygiene and fungal risk
- 💼 Incentivise the adoption of mycotoxin binders and detoxification agents in feed formulations
- 📊 Publish transparent dashboards of test results to build consumer and export partner trust
🌍 Global Lessons for India
Countries like Brazil and Vietnam, facing similar climate conditions, have implemented risk-based surveillance systems that target regions prone to aflatoxin contamination during the monsoon months. These systems combine rapid test kits, blockchain traceability, and government-led audits—a model India can adapt for its dairy sector.
📌 Conclusion: From Invisible Threat to Visible Action
India’s dairy sector cannot afford to let an invisible toxin erode decades of growth, public trust, and global opportunity. Mandating widespread mycotoxin testing in milk and feed would position India as a leader not only in volume but also in quality, safety, and responsible nutrition.
“Milk is India’s most consumed food—its safety must be non-negotiable. Aflatoxin management is the cornerstone of that safety,” said a senior food safety expert with Jordbrukare India.
With the right policies, infrastructure, and stakeholder commitment, India can ensure that every drop of milk—from village to city—is safe, nutritious, and globally admired.
