Antibiotics contamination found in fast food

BANGKOK, November 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Foundation for Consumers reports that it has found antibiotics contamination in fast food products in the country, calling on fast food producers to reduce and stop using meat tainted with antibiotics. The foundation's Secretary-General Aree Aongsomwang told journalists of the information on Wednesday, after the foundation's random inspection recently of ready-to-eat meat items in six popular fast food restaurants in Bangkok, including Subway, Mc. Donald's, KFC, Chester's Grill, Burger King, 7-eleven and CP stores. Aree noted that her foundation has examined 18 food samples and found a contamination of Doxycycline at a ratio as high as 13.73 microgramme per kilogramme within a baked-chicken sandwich of Subway, Siam Paragon branch, though the level did not exceed the safety standard level. Aree acknowledged that the contamination of substances in the Tetracycline group should not exceed the maximum limit of 200 microgrammes per kilogramme. The foundation warned that meat and meat by-products tainted with antibiotics could cause a grave harm to consumers, as they could instigate side affects, allergic symptoms, and could even cause drug resistance in some cases, which would affect some process of medical treatments. The foundation, meanwhile, called for fast food companies to implement a policy on reducing and ending their purchase of meat contaminated with antibiotics from meat producers, while allowing independent academics to inspect the farming of animals which would be used for food to ensure for public safety that there will be no antibiotics contamination in the future. (TNA)