Veterinary drug residues testing

Veterinary drug residues are chemical substances that can be found in animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs, due to the use of veterinary drugs in the raising of animals for food production. The use of veterinary drugs to treat diseases in livestock and aquatic animals can lead to the presence of drug residues in animal-derived foods, posing a potential risk to human health and safety. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global concern, with an increasing number of pathogens demonstrating multi-drug resistance. The excessive and illegal use of veterinary drugs in animal and aquaculture production can have severe negative impacts on human health and the environment. To address this issue, there is a need to develop rapid and efficient methods for detecting veterinary drug residues in animal-derived foods through simple extraction and analytical techniques. ^[1].

 Types of Veterinary drug residues ⁽²⁾

There are several types of veterinary drug residues that may be found in animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. These residues can be classified into different categories based on the types of drugs used and their potential health effects.

Risks of consuming food with veterinary drug residues ⁽³⁾

Consuming food products that contain veterinary drug residues can pose potential risks to human health, depending on the type of drug and the level of exposure. The following are some of the potential risks associated with consuming food products with veterinary drug residues:

Antibiotic resistance: Overuse or misuse of antibiotics in animal production can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to humans through food consumption, causing infections that are difficult to treat.

Allergic reactions: Some veterinary drugs can cause allergic reactions in humans, particularly those with known allergies to certain drugs.

Hormonal effects: Exposure to hormonal residues in animal products can disrupt hormone balance in humans and potentially cause health problems such as reproductive disorders.

Carcinogenic effects: Pesticide residues in animal products can have carcinogenic effects on human health, increasing the risk of developing cancer.

Toxic effects: Some veterinary drugs, such as anthelmintics and beta-agonists, can have toxic effects on human health if consumed in high amounts.

Recall incidents ^(4,5)

In 2017, the European Union issued a recall of eggs from the Netherlands due to the presence of the pesticide fipronil, which can be harmful to human health. The eggs were found to contain fipronil residues above the EU's maximum allowable limit. In 2016, the FDA announced a recall of frozen shrimp products due to the presence of antibiotic residues. The shrimp were found to contain residues of nitrofurans, a class of antibiotics that is not approved for use in shrimp in the United States

Market overview ⁽⁶⁾

The Residue Testing Market is projected to reach a valuation of USD 4,500 million in 2021, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2022 and 2028. Agriculture residue pertains to the residual presence of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, along with their byproducts, in or on agricultural produce. Factors driving market growth include heightened consumer consciousness concerning food safety, an uptick in chemical contamination incidents in the food processing industry, and a surge in allergic reactions among consumers, leading to increased demand for residue testing. 

Standards and Regulations ⁽⁷⁾

Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have established maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in animal products, to ensure that the residues are below levels that may pose a risk to human health. These MRLs are based on scientific data and are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary

FSSAI standards

 The following antibiotics and veterinary drugs are strictly prohibited for use at any stage of processing of meat and meat products, poultry and eggs, sea foods including shrimps, prawns, or any variety of fish and fishery products:

Chloramphenicol - the Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) is set at 0.0003 mg/kg (0.3 ug/kg).

• Nitrofuran antibiotics (including Furazolidone, Nitrofurazone, Nitrofurantoine, and Nifursol)
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
• Clenbuterol
• Carbadox
• Dimetridazole and Metronidazole
• Malachite Green

The EMRL for these substances is set at 0.001 mg/kg, except for Chloramphenicol, which has a lower EMRL of 0.0003 mg/kg.

It is important to note that the use of antibiotics and veterinary drugs in animal husbandry should be controlled and monitored to prevent contamination of food products and the development of antibiotic resistance.

Testing methods and analysis ⁽⁸⁾

Testing methods and analysis of veterinary drug residues in animal-derived food products involve several steps. Here is a general overview of the process:

Eurofins role in Veterinary drug residues testing

Eurofins is a global leader in laboratory testing and has a significant role in testing veterinary drug residues in food products. The company provides a range of testing services, including food testing, environmental testing, and clinical diagnostic testing. When it comes to veterinary drug residue testing, Eurofins offers various analytical methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to detect and quantify residues of veterinary drugs in various animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs. Eurofins laboratories are accredited by regulatory authorities such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the European Union Reference Laboratories for Residues of Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs (EURLs), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This accreditation ensures that Eurofins testing methods and results meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

EUROFINS Analytical Services India, based in Bangalore, also received recognition from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program. This achievement makes EUROFINS the first laboratory in Asia to receive this recognition. The LAAF program ensures the safety and quality of food in the United States by accrediting laboratories that perform testing of foods regulated by the FDA.

References

1. Wang B, Xie K, Lee K. Veterinary Drug Residues in Animal-Derived Foods: Sample Preparation and Analytical Methods. Foods. 2021 Mar 7;10(3):555. doi: 10.3390/foods10030555. PMID: 33800096; PMCID: PMC8000452.
2. https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/foodtox/lectures/lecture22/L22-Animal%20Drug%20Residues%20in%20Food.pdf
3. https://juniperpublishers.com/jdvs/JDVS.MS.ID.555856.php
4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/03/eggs-removed-from-european-shelves-over-toxicity-fears-fipronil
5. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_33.html
6. https://precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-residue-testing-market/
7. https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Contaminants_Regulations_28_01_2022.pdf
8. Parmar, J. K., Chaubey, K. K., Gupta, V., & Bharath, M. N. (2021). Assessment of various veterinary drug residues in animal originated food products. Veterinary World, 14(6), 1650-1664. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2021.1650-1664

Contact Us