Antibiotic Residues - A Global Health Hazard

Use of Antibiotic that might result in deposition of residues in meat, milk and eggs must not be permitted in food intended for human consumption.
If use of antibiotics is necessary as in prevention and treatment of animal diseases, a withholding period must be observed until the residues are negligible or no longer detected.

The use of antibiotics to bring about improved performance in growth and feed efficiency, to synchronize or control of reproductive cycle and breeding performance also often lead to harmful residual effects.

Concern over antibiotic residues in food of animal origin occurs in two times; one which produces potential threat to direct toxicity in human, second is whether the low levels of antibiotic exposure would result in alteration of microflora, cause disease and the possible development of resistant strains which cause failure of antibiotic therapy in clinical situations.

A withdrawal period is established to safeguard human from exposure of antibiotic added food. The withdrawal time is the time required for the residue of toxicological concern to reach safe concentration as defined by tolerance. It is the interval from the time an animal is removed from medication until permitted time of slaughter.

Heavy responsibility is placed on the veterinarian and livestock producer to observe the period for a withdrawal of a drug prior to slaughter to assure that illegal concentration of drug residue in meat, milk and egg do not occur.

Antibiotic Residues - A Health Concern

Antibiotics in animals should only be used when necessary, with strict withdrawal periods to ensure residues in meat, milk, and eggs are safe. These residues can cause toxicity and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Adhering to withdrawal periods is crucial for food safety.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the American Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association have urged a ban on growth-promoting antibiotics and established standards to limit this phenomenon . Consequently, drugs or antibiotic residues in food above the maximum level globally recognised by various public authorities are illegal . Furthermore, observation of the waiting or withdrawal time and physicochemical analyses is mandatory to ensure that the antibiotics used or their analogs do not exceed the maximum residue limit (MRL) before the food is marketed.

the careful management of antibiotic use in animal agriculture, including the strict observance of withdrawal periods, is essential to safeguard public health.

Veterinarians and livestock producers bear the responsibility of ensuring that animals are not slaughtered or milked for consumption until after the withdrawal period, thereby preventing illegal concentrations of drug residues in food products.

This is a nice thread , important issue these days .