Fumonisin B1 carry-over into milk in the isolated perfused bovine udder

The mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) causes a variety of health problems in animals, while epidemiological evidence suggests it is linked to human esophageal cancer. We investigated the carry-over of FB1 into bovine milk using the isolated perfused bovine udder. Two mg of FB1 was injected into the perfusion blood of 3 udders, and milk and perfused serum levels were determined for 150 min. FB1 passed through the mammary barrier into the milk, but in such low concentrations as to present a negligible risk for consumers.