FSANZ finds imported prawns safe

25 November 2003

Recent media reports claim that imported prawns contain dangerous residue levels of the antibiotic Nitrofuran ; this is not the case .

FSANZ is confident that imported prawns currently on sale are safe.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has instructed the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to test imported prawns for this antibiotic. Any products found to have levels of Nitrofuran will not be permitted for sale in Australia. Prawns found with nitrofuran residues are illegal, but not unsafe.

The nitrofuran that gave rise to the residues found in prawns was furazolidone. This nitrofuran is no longer registered for use as a veterinary chemical in Australia.  When furazolidone was registered for use in Australia prior to 1992, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) was 0.0004 mg/kg/day.  

Using this ADI, it can be determined that an average intake of prawns containing furazolidone up to a level of approximately 400 parts per billion ( that is 400 microgram/kg)could be consumed safely over a lifetime.

Based on the highest level of furazolidone found in prawns, an individual could consume 1.8 kg of prawns every day for life without harmful effects.