Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteMonday 18 March 2002
The Food Standards Agency has received the results of tests on a number of products of animal origin from China and South East Asia. The Agency began these tests as a result of concerns about a lack of control on the use of veterinary drugs in China. The latest results show further residues of illegal and unacceptable drug residues.
Illegal residues of the veterinary medicine chloramphenicol were found in samples of Royal Jelly, normally sold in capsule form, at similar levels to those recently found in honey. Independent scientific experts agreed that there was only an extremely low risk to public health through the consumption of products with residues at these low levels.
Given the low risk, the Agency is not advising against the consumption of Royal Jelly, but is calling for a withdrawal of Chinese and other Royal Jelly products, unless they meet legal requirements.
Further test results have also been received on two samples of Chinese rabbit meat. One is clear of all veterinary medicines and the other tested positive for residues of a pesticide. The levels were extremely low and while undesirable are not illegal and pose a negligible public health risk.
Given the low risk, the Agency is not advising against the consumption of Chinese rabbit products, nor calling for any product withdrawals.
Test results have also been received on warm water prawns and shrimps from SE Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh). The test results revealed that 16 out of the 77 samples tested positive for illegal and unacceptable residues of nitrofuran drugs. These drugs are no longer permitted in the European Union for use in food producing animals. This is because of concerns including a possible increased risk of cancer in humans through long-term consumption.
Given the possible risk, the Agency is advising against the consumption of these particular batches of shrimps and prawns. It is also calling for them to be withdrawn and recalled from sale. The companies involved have been advised of the results and are cooperating with the Agency. This advice does not concern cold water prawns and shrimps commonly used in the UK.
Details of the affected shrimp and prawn products, most of which have been on sale in major high street supermarkets, are listed below. The Agency is not advising against the general consumption of prawns and shrimps from South East Asia. However the Agency has alerted the EU Commission to these findings. The Commission has agreed to consider this issue on an EU wide basis to prevent further contaminated food entering the Community. The FSA will be asking the independent Veterinary Residues Committee to include analyses for nitrofurans in the future testing programme for warm water shrimps and prawns.
News contact: Kathryn Corcoran 029 20 678915
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Product
Raw peeled prawns
Brand name
Lyons
Retailer
Sainsburys
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
0 85143
10031750
Best before
26.10.03
Product
Cooked tiger prawns
Brand name
Lyons
Retailer
Iceland
Country of origin where known Thailand
Batch code
0 84144
10031990
Best before
APR 2003
Product
Raw headless tiger prawns
Brand name
Tesco fish counter
Retailer
Tesco
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
Unknown
Best before
13.2.02
Product
Prawn ring
Brand name
Party bites
Retailer
Tesco
Country of origin where known Thailand
Batch code
1300 2
Best before
30 Mar 03
Product
Cooked peeled tiger prawns
Brand name
Tesco
Retailer
Tesco
Country of origin where known Thailand
Batch code
1 340 Y
Best before
Sept 02
Product
King prawn ring
Brand name
Iceland
Retailer
Iceland
Country of origin where known Thailand
Batch code
1292 2
Best before
30 Mar 03
Product
Tiger king prawns
Brand name
Lyons
Retailer
Iceland
Country of origin where known Vietnam
Batch code
083131
10028450 & 083134
10029113
Best before
Feb 03
Product
Seafood selection
Brand name
Safeway
Retailer
Safeway
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
1155
Best before
Dec 02
Product
Tiger prawns
Brand name
Safeway
Retailer
Safeway
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
2007
Best before
Jul 03
Product
Frozen shrimp
Brand name
Red Ribbon
Retailer
Lee Foods
Country of origin where known Indonesia
Batch code
Unknown
Best before
Unclear. Freeze date – 25 Sept 1999
Product
Tiger king prawn ring
Brand name
Ocean Pearl
Retailer
Co-Op
Country of origin where known Thailand
Batch code
1259
Best before
Mar 03
Product
Cooked tiger prawns net 545g
Brand name
IQF
Retailer
Cam Seng
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
Unknown
Best before
31.05.2003
Product
Prawns
Brand name
None
Retailer
Asia Supermarket
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
Unknown
Best before
Unknown
Product
Raw king prawns
Brand name
Safeway
Retailer
Safeway
Country of origin where known Unknown
Batch code
1247
Best before
Mar 03
Product
Raw fresh water prawns
Brand name
Lyons
Retailer
Makro
Country of origin where known India & Bangladesh
Batch code
U/8
083144
10031918
Best before
Oct 03
Product
Fresh water king prawns
Brand name
Lyons
Retailer
Makro
Country of origin where known India
Batch code
082202
10034453
Best before
Jan 04
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(pdf 9KB) Rabbit and Royal Jelly - TablesDownload excel
(Excel 20KB) Veterinary residues in shrimps and prawns Scottish Food Hazard Warning Your Questions Answered: Nitrofurans in shrimps and prawns (External) Get Adobe Acrobat reader You may need the free Acrobat Reader to view a pdfFind out what our other sites have to offer