Ensuring Food Safety in Developing and Developed Countries: Aspects Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Fish Farming in Brazil

Abstract

Food safety is an essential public health issue for all countries, since microbiological and chemical contamination in foods is a major cause of disease. In addition to improving public health, effective food safety systems are also vital to maintain consumer confidence in the food system and to provide a sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade of foods, which supports economic development. In addition to growing concern over food safety, there has also been an increase in consumer preference for healthier food. In this respect, in search of a healthier diet with appropriate nutritional profile, demand for fish consumption is progressively increasing worldwide. In Brazil, fish farming is experiencing higher growth among production sectors of food of animal origin. Nonetheless, antimicrobial agents are widely used in fish farming, and little data on the type and amount of veterinary drugs used are available. In this chapter, aspects of risk assessment related to veterinary drugs are presented. In particular, aspects associated with the current status on the use of veterinary drugs in fish farming, with emphasis on Brazil, will be addressed.