U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Import Alert 16-136, “Detention without Physical Examination of Aquacultured Shrimp and Prawns from Peninsular Malaysia Due to Presence of Drug Residues from Unapproved Animal Drugs or the Presence of Unsafe Food Additives.” Import Alert 16-136 follows a massive increase in the number of shrimp entry lines refused by the FDA for reasons related to veterinary drug residues beginning in 2014.
Providing an explanation for the reason for the Import Alert, the FDA stated:
From October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015, FDA detected a significant increase in the presence of nitrofurans and chloramphenicol residues in shrimp products imported from Peninsular Malaysia. During that period, FDA sampled and tested 138 shrimp shipments from Peninsular Malaysia. Of those collected, forty-five samples (32%) tested positive for the presence of nitrofuran residues (residues of furazolidone metaboloite AOZ) and/or chloramphenicol residues. The concentrations of nitrofuran residues detected in shrimp ranged from 1.0 ppb to 23 ppb, and the concentrations of chloramphenicol residues in shrimp ranged from 0.3 ppb to 6.8 ppb.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Southern Shrimp Alliance
