DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref
:161/07) issued by The Government News Network on 4 June 2007
Nitrofuran
metabolites have been found in three samples of imported warm
water prawns, a report published by the Veterinary Residues
Committee (VRC) reveals today.
Three out of 102 samples collected from UK Border Inspection
Posts (BIPs) and wholesale outlets contained nitrofuran
metabolites above the European Commission's limit of 1 ug/kg
(parts per billion). The contaminated samples originated from
India and Thailand.
Nitrofurans are not authorised for use in the treatment of
animals for food production in the EU and should not be present in
food of animal origin exported to the EU.
Nitrofurans have been linked with a possible increased risk of
cancer in humans through long-term consumption. Advice from the
VRC is that the risk from infrequent exposure to very low levels
of nitrofurans in food is likely to be low, and the exposure
indicated by the survey findings is not considered of concern for
consumer safety.
All remaining stock from the contaminated consignments was
removed from the food chain as a precautionary measure.
This survey is the third brand naming study commissioned by the
VRC and carried out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
The report details the commodity sampled, where the samples were
collected and the results of the analyses. It can be viewed
online at: http://www.vet-residues-committee.gov.uk.
Notes for editors
1. Nitrofurans are a group of veterinary antibiotics banned for
use in food producing animals in the EU, and should not be present
in food of animal origin exported to the EU. Countries that wish
to export food of animal origin to the EU are required to comply
with EU legislation.
2. The European Commission has set a Minimum Required Performance
Limit (MRPL) of 1 ug/kg (parts per billion) for the analysis of
nitrofuran metabolites in aquaculture products (Commission
Decision 2003/181/EC).
3. One of the contaminated samples was from India. The other two
were from the same consignment from Thailand but sampled in
different months.
4. This is the third brand naming survey commissioned by the VRC
and carried out by the VMD. The first survey covered malachite
green and leucomalachite green in farmed salmon. The second survey
covered chloramphenicol, nitrofurans and streptomycin in honey.
Details relating to these three studies may be obtained from the
Brand Naming Reports page on the VRC website referred to above.
5. The Food Standards Agency will deal with any questions that
arise in respect of product withdrawals and consumer safety. The
Agency contact numbers are: Press enquiries 0207 276 8888; Public
enquiries 0207 276 8548. Any questions on the scope of the survey
should be directed to Defra Press Branch on 0207 238 6007.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
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