Antimicrobial Residues in Food from Animal Origin-A Review of the Literature Focusing on Products Collected in Stores and Markets Worldwide.

Fritz Michael Treiber,Heide Beranek-Knauer

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10050534

Abstract

The extensive use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic residues in frequently consumed foods. Generally, the main use of antibiotics in animals is to treat and prevent diseases and growth promotion. However, the residues and their breakdown products have several side effects on the human body and, in a broader sense, on the environment. In relation to the human body, the frequency of mutations is increased, the bone marrow is damaged (chloramphenicol), and the reproductive organs of humans are affected. Carcinogenic effects have been found with antibiotics such as sulfamethazine, oxytetracycline, and furazolidone. We summarized data from 73 scientific studies reporting antimicrobial residues in animal products that were freely available for sale. The studies were published in English starting from 1999 till 2021 and identified through the Pubmed search engine. The aims were to find out which antibiotics, legal or illegal, could be found in animal foods worldwide. Which are stable to get into the food chain and exceed the maximum residue limits (MRL) regarding the EU guidelines as a comparison. Reducing antimicrobial residues in food from animal origin and, in addition to this, fighting the tremendous growth and spread of antimicrobial resistance will undoubtedly be one of the most difficult food safety challenges in the coming years.

Highlights

It is clear that the addition of antibiotics to animal feed is the main factor behind the increased incidence and spread of antibiotic resistance [11]
Antibiotic residues in animal products that reached consumers had to be neatly separated from antibiotic degradation tests in tissues and methods for detecting these compounds
We reviewed 73 studies on antimicrobial residues in animal products published in English since 1999

Summary

Introduction

There are already bans on the use of antibiotics on a preventive basis in animal breeding [6] These may no longer be used as growth accelerators. In 1995, a systematic monitoring program was introduced in this country regarding the use of antibiotics in animal breeding and in humans It is known as DANMAP, which means Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Research Program [7,8]. It is clear that the addition of antibiotics to animal feed is the main factor behind the increased incidence and spread of antibiotic resistance [11] Apart from this severe problem, the disposal of animal dung and the application of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater into the environment are further challenges that are often reflected in the scientific literature. Antibiotics used in veterinary medicine were found in food, drinking water, and urine of preschoolers in Hong Kong [13]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion