31 March 2004
FACT SHEET: NITROFURANS IN IMPORTED HONEY AND PRAWNS (AUSTRALIA ONLY)
There have been incorrect reports that imported honey and imported prawns contain dangerous residues of an antibiotic known as nitrofuran.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has conducted a safety assessment which has shown that imported honey and imported prawn products on supermarket shelves in Australia are safe.
What did FSANZ’s safety assessment find?
FSANZ is confident that the imported honey and prawns currently on sale are safe. We have carried out a scientific risk assessment from available test results. The risk assessment shows that the trace levels found of the nitrofuran residues in honey and prawns were so low you could safely eat at least 400,000 times the amount found.
What are nitrofurans?
Nitrofurans are a class of antibiotics. They are still prescribed for human use usually to treat urinary tract infections.
Despite claims in the media, there is no scientific evidence that nitrofurans cause cancer in humans. However, nitrofurans are no longer registered for use as a veterinary chemical in food-producing animals in Australia and there is no residue limit for nitrofurans in the Food Standards Code. This means that, even though the foods containing traces of nitrofurans are safe, they do not comply with the Food Standards Code.
What has FSANZ done to stop illegal levels of nitrofurans in honey and prawns?
Last year FSANZ advised the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to test imported honey and imported prawns for this antibiotic. Any food products found to contain nitrofurans will not be permitted for sale in Australia. To date 56 consignments of prawns have been tested of which 5 have been found to have levels of nitrofurans and these failed consignments have not been permitted into Australia.
At the time no laboratory in Australia had the capability to test for nitrofurans in honey to a standard that was reliable enough for enforcement agencies to use. AQIS have advised that an Australian laboratory has now developed a fully reliable and effective test for nitrofuran in honey and testing of imports will commence in April. This test procedure is consistent with international standards and ensures the international credibility of Australia’s import controls.
FSANZ has also been in constant contact with importers to advise them to ensure that nitrofuran residues are not found in their products.
Why hasn’t FSANZ recalled products from the shelves?
FSANZ always takes immediate action if any food is found to be unsafe. We have taken action in the past with withdrawals from the shelves of imported European beef products because of concerns about ‘mad cow disease’ as well as withdrawal of soy and oyster sauces because of high levels of chloropropanols.
We would only recommend that these products be recalled if there was a health and safety risk, which is not the case with these imported honey and imported prawns.