15 tons of TRNC produced contaminated milk were destroyed recently.
Samples showed traces of a carcinogenic chemical called aflatoxin.* The contaminated milk was found mainly Haspolat and the border village of Akincilar.
Following the destruction of the milk, farmers blamed the State for supplying contaminated corn feed and are demanding compensation.
The Animal Husbandry department denied responsibility, claiming that there was nothing wrong with the corn feed. However, it pointed a finger at the farmers themselves, saying that the animal feed was stored in unhygienic conditions.
*Aflatoxins are a group of chemicals produced by certain mould fungi. These fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, can be recognized by olive green or gray- green, respectively, on corn kernels, in the field or in storage. Although aflatoxins are not automatically produced whenever grain becomes mouldy, the risk of aflatoxin contamination is greater in damaged, mouldy corn than in corn with little mould.
