Drug Residues in Animal Foods and Consumer Safety

Abstract

Following the usage of veterinary drugs to prevent or treat diseases in animals, or growth promo-ters in food-producing animals, drug residues may be resulted in eddible tissues (such as meat, li-ver, and kidney) and products (such as milk, eggs, honey). Drug residues in animal foods are public health and economic respect. Especially, long action drug formulations give rise higher residues in animal foods. Gentamicin, neomycin, oxytetracycline, penicillin G, streptomycin, tildipirosin and tilmicosin are the most antibiotics found in animal foods. Prevention of drug residues in food-producing animals is the responsibility of governmental authority, veterinarians, food and drug producers and marketing firms. For preventing of drug residues in animal foods, governmental authority has been established withdrawal times, maximal residue levels, authorised drugs for usage in food-producing animals, residue control ve monitoring programme.

Key words: Animal foods, drug, residue, consumer safety