Pesticide residues in food and feed frequently attract the attention of the public at large. Consumers can potentially be exposed to residues via consumption of food derived from treated animals. This includes meat and meat products derived from the main food species (bovines, sheep, pigs and poultry), as well as farmed fish, milk, eggs and honey. In the main, the types of drugs used in animal treatment are also used to treat disease in humans, and the side effects of these drugs at high doses are well-known. It is therefore of critical importance that residues of such drugs are either not present in animals or animal products destined for the human food chain, or are present at such a level that adverse effects on the health of consumers cannot occur. Residues of penicillin in slaughtered animals are considered a public health hazard because of the potential for hypersensitivity reactions in people. One area of particular concern in relation to residues of animal remedies is the increasing spread of antibiotic resistance among bacterial species causing disease in humans. At the maximum residue levels in food established for approved animal remedies, health effects are not anticipated in consumers. Consumers can potentially be exposed to residues of animal remedies via consumption of food derived from treated animals. Pesticides are among the most regulated products in several countries. Before a pesticide can be used in California, it must be evaluated and licensed by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The manufacturer must present test data to show the pesticide will not pose unacceptable risks to workers, consumers, or the environment. If animal drugs were not absorbed or were metabolized to harmless products, there would be no concern. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. It is therefore necessary to collect data on residues and their safety as a basis for establishing safe residue concentrations and withdrawal periods for food animal drugs, and, it is equally important that slaughtered animals be monitored for possible unsafe residues. Veterinary medicines are an essential part of modern livestock production in regard to the prevention and treatment of disease, the treatment of injuries which can adversely affect the productivity, profitability and welfare of animals. It is vital though that these products are used responsibly to prevent animals suffering and to safe guard the human food chain. For these reasons the authorisation, supply and use of veterinary medicines is strictly regulated. Regulatory authorities establish maximum residue limits (MRL) or tolerances and set withdrawal times that ensure residues of the active constituent will not exceed the MRL when the label instructions for the product are followed.

References

1. Salehzadeh F., et al. “Oxytetracycline residue in chicken tissues from Tehran slaughterhouses in Iran”. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 4 (2006): 377-381.
2. Salehzadeh F., et al. “Enrofloxacin residue in chicken tissues from Tehran slaughterhouses in Iran”. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 4 (2007): 409-413.
3. Oaks JL., et al. “Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan”. Nature 427 (2004): 630-633.
4. Paige JC., et al. “Public health impact on drug residues in animal tissues”. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 9 (1997): 1-27.
5. Sundlof SF. “Human risks associated with drug residues in animal derived food”. The Journal of Agromedicine 1 (1994): 5-22.

Citation

Citation: Mohd Iqbal Yatoo. “Pesticide and Drug Residues in Animal Origin Food and its Impact on Food Chain". Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences 2.11 (2020): 10-12.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2020 Mohd Iqbal Yatoo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.