o:9154 Review Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain en Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a carcinogenic milk contaminant and a persistent food safety con- cern in Serbia, especially under changing climate conditions that exacerbate contamina- tion risks. This review synthesizes national research conducted between 2012 and 2024, covering more than thirty thousand analyzed milk and dairy samples, to evaluate AFM1 contamination, public health risks, and the need for structured risk ranking and prioriti- zation frameworks recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A systematic analysis of Serbian studies ex- plored AFM1 occurrence, dietary exposure, and health risk estimates across population groups. The evidence reveals persistent AFM1 contamination with pronounced seasonal peaks during drought years and winter months, frequently exceeding the EU maximum limit of 0.05 µg/kg. Recent multi-year studies confirm that climate-driven AFB1 contami- nation in maize and compound feed remains a significant and recurring source of AFM1 in milk, highlighting the necessity of structured risk prioritization frameworks. Exposure assessments highlight children and students as the most vulnerable groups, displaying the highest estimated daily intake. Although current margin of exposure (MOE) values remain within acceptable limits, the persistence of contamination underscores a need for proactive risk management. Adoption of FAO and EFSA risk-ranking methodologies would enhance monitoring efficiency, protect high-risk populations, and support align- ment with EU standards. Implementing structured risk prioritization is crucial for strengthening Serbia’s food safety governance, guiding policy decisions, and reducing the health burden of AFM1 in the dairy sector. aflatoxin M1; milk; food safety; risk ranking; risk prioritisation; predictive modeling; climate change 1552099 10.3390/toxins18020105 2026-02-26T08:40:31.614Z 44 yes 46 Dragan R. Milićević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain 0000-0003-0405-5896 Božidar Udovički Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain person Ana Šuša Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain person Andreja Rajković Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade; Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain person Jelka Pleadin Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Croatian Veterinary Institute Climate-Driven Aflatoxin M1 Risks in Serbia: Implications for Integrated Food Safety Management Along the Dairy Chain person application/pdf 906186 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:9154 no yes 16 70 92000002 71A01 Toxins 18 105 1 31 MDPI MDPI 2026-02-19