BACKGROUND AND AIM: MYCOTOXINS ARE A GROUP OF TOXIC SECONDARY METABOLITES PRODUCED BY FUNGI WHICH ARE FOUND UBIQUITOUSLY IN THE SOIL. AMONG MYCOTOXINS, AFLATOXINS ARE THE MOST TOXIC. ASPERGILLUS SPECIES PRODUCE AFLATOXINS. AFLATOXIN B1 (AFB1) IS THE MOST CARCINOGENIC OF THE NATURALLY OCCURRING AFLATOXINS AND CAUSES ACUTE AND CHRONIC INTOXICATION. AFB1 METABOLIZES TO THE 4-HYDROXY DERIVATE AFLATOXIN M1 (AFM1) IN LACTATING ANIMALS INCLUDING HUMANS. MYCOTOXINS ARE PRESENT IN FOODS AS A RESULT OF RAW MATERIAL CONTAMINATION, OR DEFICIENCIES IN HARVESTING, STORAGE OR PROCESSING. ...