Antibiotic detected in feed

Prohibited antibiotic detected in feed. Authorities do not see any cause for concern

23/01/2011

In the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, traces of antibiotic were once again detected in the feed. A discovered antibiotic is prohibited by law for the production of animal feed. However, according to the authorities, there is no risk to the health of consumers, as the quantities are barely detectable after further processing.

According to official data of the agricultural authorities, a prohibited antibiotic was named „chloramphenicol“ detected in feed. A manufacturer of animal feed from the Magdeburg Bördekreis had already informed the authorities on Friday about this. The manufacturer said that when processing a vitamin premix, the antibiotic drug chloramphenicol was discovered. This premix comes again from a supplier from Lower Saxony.

Antibiotic barely detectable
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), however, there is no cause for concern. It is assumed that the compound feed produced from the vitamin mixture no longer contain analytically detectable traces of the antibiotic. In the premix, only 17.9 micrograms chloramphenicol per kilogram could be detected. Thus, the actual amount in the finished animal feed is hardly more important. A danger of animals and humans excludes it, so the institute. Nevertheless, the manufacturer from Saxony-Anhalt has recalled all animal feeds already delivered. A total of 55 tons of animal feed have already been delivered to farms. 22 tons could be brought back to the current level of knowledge.

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and due to many side effects it is only given in medical emergencies today. The active ingredient is only used when adequate drugs are no longer available. It is commonly regarded by medical professionals as a reserve antibiotic. Depending on the dosages, damage to the bone marrow as well as disorders of the nervous system (neurotoxin) can occur as side effects. The described mostly life-threatening side effects were, however, only rarely found. (Sb)

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Picture: Kurt Michel