As part of the state task, inspectors of the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and the Republic of Kalmykia in the Rostov region selected a sample of frozen pork.
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For laboratory studies, this sample was delivered to the testing center of the Rostov Reference Center of the Rosselkhoznadzor.
In the course of laboratory tests, experts from the Toxicological Types of Testing sector found a residual amount of a broad spectrum antibiotic, metronidazole, in this sample.
This deviation is a violation of the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union "On Food Safety" and the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union "On the Safety of Meat and Meat Products".
Metronidazole belongs to the 5-nitroimidazole group (5-NIMZ).
These are highly active broad-spectrum antimicrobials for the systemic treatment of infections caused by obligate anaerobic bacteria and a number of infectious diseases caused by protozoa.
This drug is used in veterinary medicine for the prevention and treatment of any kind of animals from the following types of diseases: salmonellosis, balantidiasis, enteritis, septicemia.
Those animals that have received antibiotics should have a quarantine period before slaughter to completely eliminate the remains of veterinary drugs from the body.
Otherwise, residual amounts of drugs remain in meat products and are consumed by humans.
Even low levels of antibiotics consumed over a long period of time can lead to the development of organisms that are resistant to this drug.
And metronidazole is very often used in the treatment of many diseases in humans: stomach ulcers, sepsis, pneumonia, soft tissue abscesses, skin diseases and dentistry.
Strict control of the use of antibiotics in animal production will help ensure that products containing drug residues are completely safe for consumers.
Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rostov Reference Center of Rosselkhoznadzor" is equipped with high-tech equipment, which makes it possible to conduct research on food of animal origin using highly efficient laboratory methods with high reliability and in the shortest possible time.
Since the beginning of 2023, as part of the state monitoring of food quality and safety, specialists from the testing center have examined 826 samples, conducted 4398 tests, including 58 samples of pork meat, and conducted 348 tests.
The residual amount of drugs was found in 16 cases, including 1 case in pork.
Information about the detection of metronidazole in meat was promptly sent to the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and the Republic of Kalmykia for response. ■