ID :
30788
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 15:52
Auther :

S. Korea finds minute traces of banned material in Chinese duck meat

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's quarantine service said Monday that it has found a banned antibiotic that can cause bone marrow defects in Chinese cooked duck meat.

The 3-ton shipment contained a very low chloramphenicol level of 0.0006 parts per
million, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said.
This is the second time that the chemical was found in a product sent by Cooked
Foods Processing of Weifang Legang Food Co. On Nov. 7, authorities found a
package containing 1.3 parts per billion.
The NVRQS added that since all imports from the Chinese supplier were halted
after the first discovery, the new examinations were carried out on the 49.9 tons
held in storage.
"Because another sample came out positive, we have asked the local importer to
send the shipments back or to destroy those already in the country," an official
said.
The official also said that tougher inspections are to be carried out on all
cooked poultry meat from China to check specifically for the antibiotic.
The material, first introduced in 1949, is still used as a cheap and effective
antibiotic in poor countries, but limits have been imposed because in very rare
cases, it can lead to aplastic anemia. This conditions hinders the body's bone
marrow from making new blood.
Seoul has banned its use in animals since 1991, with human use being limited to
eye drops and certain medical treatments.
yonngong@yna.co.kr

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