Public health impact on drug residues in animal tissues.

Consumers have expressed concern regarding the health impact of drug residues in their food. Animal residues in animal tissues above the legal tolerance clearly have an impact on human health. Tolerances represent the maximal level or concentration of antimicrobial residues permitted in animal tissues at the time of slaughter. The tolerances are intended to ensure that residual drugs will have no harmful effects if ingested. This paper describes the existing evidence for specific health hazards for certain pharmacological classes of drugs and explains the risks associated with drug residues in meat and poultry above the established tolerance. The primary focus is on possible public health consequences that may occur as a result of acute exposure to illegal residues. In addition, long-term effects are discussed with added comments about the effect of residues on the intestinal flora. Most residues of veterinary drugs occur in food at such low levels that they rarely pose a chronic or long-term health hazard to consumers. The importance of food safety through the reduction of residues in our food supply cannot be overemphasized. Food safety remains a major challenge confronting contemporary society.