Metabolites of nitrofurans were found in chicken carcasses

The sample was selected in the Volgograd region and delivered to the testing center of the Rostov Reference Center of Rosselkhoznadzor for laboratory research.

Based on the results of tests conducted by specialists in the toxicological testing sector, this sample revealed the presence of nitrofuran metabolites (furazolidone metabolite), which does not meet the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union “On the safety of poultry meat and its processed products” (EAEU TR 051/2021 ) .

Nitrofurans are a group of drugs related in chemical structure to 5-nitro-2-furfulidenehydrozones or 5-nitro-2-furyl hydrozones. Additionally, nitrofurans can be used as growth stimulants for farm animals and birds. Furazolidone for birds is an oral antibacterial drug and is actively used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of domestic birds, large and small livestock. The action of the drug is aimed at destroying pathogenic microorganisms.

Metabolites of nitrofurans are thermostable and remain in products after cooking. Consumption of products containing residual amounts of drugs negatively affects human health : it causes allergic reactions, dysbacteriosis, and also reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics . 

Information about the identification of deviations from the regulatory document was promptly sent to the Rosselkhoznadzor Office for the Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions and the Republic of Kalmykia to take response measures.