Drugs are used in livestock to treat disease, maintain herd and flock health, promote growth, improve meat quality and increasing lean meat yield, thereby reducing production costs. There is the potential of leaving residues that may appear in the food with the veterinary use of drugs. Drug residues are the very small amounts of veterinary medicines that can remain in animal products and therefore make their way into the human food chain. These include degradation products of drugs like antibiotics.
Antibiotics used in animal products include ß-lactams (penicillin, ampicillin), chloramphenicol, tetracycline, macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin), aminoglycosides (gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) and others, which are being widely used in animals and poultry. The tolerant limits of these antibiotics have been specified by the food and drug authorities. If the limits of such antibiotics exceed the recommended values then it could become hazardous for human beings consuming meat and other products.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are empowered to make a scientific assessment of resistance risks arising from non-human use of antibiotics and antimicrobials.
There are different legislations to check for drug residues and their recommended limits in animal food products. In harmony with the CODEX and WHO, the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, have clearly stated that all animal food products must be tested before they are ready for the sale in the market.
It is also required that all the food business operators (FBOs) should mention on the labels, the ingredients of the food product, which should strictly follow the instructions for maximum permissible limits for the residues in the food product.
In compliance with the FSSAI, we provide consultation to the FBOs on the labeling requirements. We have state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, duly accredited by NABL and approved by FSSAI to test food items for drug residues as well as other contaminants.
Please contact us today using the quick query form on the right or by calling us now on +91-11-45754575 to get your food samples tested for drug residues.
