Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
products from Belgium, pesticides in food products in Japan and in soft drinks
in India, tainted coca-cola in Belgium and France, hormones in beef, melamine
in dairy products from China and salmonella in peanuts and now pistachios in
USA [2-3] Such scandals, together with the continuing controversy about
genetically modified crops, have prompted a great concern about food safety
issues
among consumers worldwide [4]. In an attempt to counter these doubts,
the governments of several countries have re-organized their management of
food safety issues and, in many cases, have increased the amount of food
safety-related legislation and introduced a variety of unannounced controls in
all kind of feed and food products [5]. Current good manufacturing practices
(GMPs) are a primary basis by which food manufacturers and processors
prevent, reduce, control, or eliminate food borne hazards. Furthermore, the
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system provides the
means to analyze and target specific steps in food production (critical control
points) for prevention, mitigation, or control of food contamination [6-7].
Analytical information, including surveillance data for both recognized and
newly identified contaminants, is also essential.
Among veterinary antimicrobial agents, nitrofurans are a large group of
chemotherapeutic compounds that were used worldwide in veterinary
treatment for massive livestock species (pigs, poultry, rabbits and fish),
especially active against bacteria and protozoa which allowed reduce
morbidity and mortality of the workforce with low cost and great
effectiveness, particularly in cases of severe gastrointestinal and respiratory
diseases. Its use was particularly useful in situations where the pathogens were
showing resistance to antibiotics and sulphonamides [1].
The most common nitrofurans are furazolidone (FZD), nifursol (NFS)
nitrofurantoin (NFT), nitrofurazone (NFZ) and furaltadone (FTD). These
compounds are rapidly metabolized in vivo, leading to a significant decrease
of their levels in plasma. The half-live elimination of nitrofurans is very short,
and some hours after administration it is almost impossible to detect any
residues of parent compounds in edible tissues. A concomitant accumulation
of the respective protein-bound residues is observed, making their detection
possible over large periods of time [8].
Another concern is the effect of such agents on the selection of particular
strains of bacteria implicated in human infections. Previous findings have also
suggested a link between the resistance to nitrofurans in human Salmonella
isolates and the food chain. These observations highlight another problem
related to antibiotic practice in food animal production. The widespread use of
nitrofurans might also be involved in the selection and persistence of
