A NOVEL APPROACH TO CONTROL SULFAMETHAZINE MISUSE IN FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS BY HAIR ANALYSIS

Marta Gratacós-Cubarsí (1) , Massimo Castellari (2) , Angel Valero (1) , Isabel Diaz (1) , José-Antonio García-Regueiro (1)

1 Food Chemistry Unit
2 Food Chemistry Unit

The deposition of sulfamethazine (SMZ) residues in pig and calf hair was compared with the residual levels encountered in the corresponding edible tissues (liver and muscle) as a consequence of drug administration. SMZ up to 84.7 mg/kg was found in calf hair samples after a pharmacological treatment, with a significant effect of hair pigmentation. High concentrations of the mother drug were detected in calf hairs four weeks after administration, when SMZ residues were no longer detectable in the corresponding edible tissues. In a similar way, pig hairs also accumulated SMZ residues up to 40.5 mg/Kg, more than those detected in the corresponding muscle and liver samples at slaughter. Hair analysis seems a suitable tool to improve the efficacy of regulatory controls, the safety of the food chain and to discourage the improper use of SMZ in animal farming.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Marta Gratacós-Cubarsí, Massimo Castellari, Angel Valero, Isabel Diaz, José-Antonio García-Regueiro. A NOVEL APPROACH TO CONTROL SULFAMETHAZINE MISUSE IN FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS BY HAIR ANALYSIS. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2006, 23 (10), pp.981-987. ⟨10.1080/02652030600781813⟩. ⟨hal-00577301⟩