This paper, deals with the recent history, chemistry and analysis of nitrofuran antibiotics and makes recommendations for a better regulatory regime to protect consumers, safeguard the interests of responsible producers and importers and reduce waste. The paper is free to download until 5th November at J Food Control.
John Points, D. Thorburn Burns, Michael J. Walker, 2014, Forensic issues in the analysis of trace nitrofuran veterinary residues in food of animal origin, Food Control, Available online 4 September 2014, ISSN 0956-7135, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.08.037.
Abstract
Over the past twelve years hundreds of official analyses for nitrofuran antibiotic residues in farmed shrimp and prawns have led to product recalls, border rejections, and de-listed suppliers. Positive-release testing regimes have been instigated at huge economic cost. There have been repeated occasions when new scientific information or policy clarification has led to enforcement decisions being seen in a new light and current practice continues to evolve. There remain discrepancies between results found pre-harvest and pre-export in some countries, and results from Border Inspection Posts' analyses when consignments arrive at their destination, despite international harmonisation of test methods and quality criteria. Forensic issues around enforcement decisions following laboratory results for non-compliant consignments containing nitrofurans are summarised herein, including those that have been referred for technical appeal to the UK Government Chemist. Current best practice is collated and specific recommendations and suggestions made for the decision-making process in food safety enforcement. We recommend an approach to semicarbazide analysis from core flesh, removal of ice glaze prior to analysis and that measurement uncertainty is subtracted from the mean result to yield a ‘not less than’ figure used for reporting purposes ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. Research is needed to fill knowledge gaps with regard to sample homogeneity and sampling protocols for nitrofurans in food of animal origin. Sampling should be standardised, as has been established for mycotoxin controls and a modern toxicology risk assessment of nitrofurans and their metabolites in food appears to be warranted.
Comments
Thanks for this Michael - an excellent review of a complex situation. I was fortunate to be heavily involved in FoodBRAND and learnt so much through it. Who'd have thought the enforcement issues would still be so muddy ten years later!