Aflatoxin alert

Bosnian authorities to thoroughly inspect all dairy plants

10.02.2013 u 13:57

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Bosnian authorities will conduct a detailed check of all dairy plants in the country in the wake of suspicions that suspicious cattle feed was used that led to increased levels of poisonous aflatoxins in milk, Sarajevo's Dnevni Avaz daily said on Sunday.

Veterinary inspectors will examine the levels of mycotoxins that appeared in cattle feed because of a long drought. This mold is the biggest cause of higher concentrations of dangerous substances in milk.

The Bosnian Food Safety Agency said it urged the relevant inspection teams in early December to step up the testing of imported corn and its products to mycotoxins. The Agency said it was not informed that corn with higher levels of mycotoxins was found on the Bosnian market during the inspections.

Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Sarovic announced sanctions against everyone involved in the sale or delivery of milk with aflatoxins in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) said the Croatian government had caused huge damage to Croatian dairy farmers by stating that they were to blame for the "poisonous" milk and urged the government to say which farm the suspicious milk was from.

Croatian Assistant Agriculture Minister Mirjana Matausic-Pisl on Saturday dismissed all speculation that the milk in question was imported and said the corn used to feed cattle was Croatian.

Suspicious milk packages from the Dukat and Vindija companies were withdrawn from shops, and the ministry said there was no reason to panic because milk would have to be consumed in enormous quantities for harmful concentrations to have any effect on the human body.