Veterinary Drug Residues in Food of Animal Origins in Ethiopia

The extensive use of veterinary drugs in food-producing animals can lead to the accumulation of some quantities of the drug residues within the cells, tissues, organs or edible products including meat, milk and milk products, blood, eggs, honey, etc of animals following its use to prevent, control or treat animal diseases, or to enhance production. The most important cause for occurrence of drug residue in animal tissues is insufficient period of time given for the drug to be eliminated from foods. Residues can also result from involuntary administration of drugs, or food additives. Nearly all drugs administered intentionally or unintentionally to animals result in trace residues remains in food products. These residues have important public health and economic implications for the subsequent reasons like selection of resistant pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, toxicity, allergic reactions, carcinogenicity and hindrance of certain food products. Immunoassay or microbiological detection methods are used to screen for drug residues but chromatographic methods are needed to confirm positive results. The prevalence, prevention and control of veterinary drug residues in Ethiopia.