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Alarming levels of antibiotics found in milk

KATHMANDU: Alarming levels of antibiotic residue have been found in milk samples from urban areas across the country, raising concerns about the health of the general public.

Findings from a study being conducted by the Central Food Laboratory showed that of the 120 milk samples collected from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Pokhara and Kavre, 67 had unacceptable levels of drugs linked to many ailments.

Intolerable levels of antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin were detected in milk samples, said Jeevan Prabha Lama, Director General at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control.

She said farmers are attracted towards antibiotics due to the short-term benefits it brings. “For instance, farmers give oxacillin to buffaloes to stimulate milk glands,” informed Lama. “Milk samples from Kathmandu Metropolitan City were found to have an average of 300 parts per billion (ppb) of antibiotics,” said Kanchan Kumar Nayak, senior food officer of the department. As Nepal does not have its own standard to limit levels of antibiotic residue in milk, the country has adopted European Union standards. According to the EU standards, less than four ppb of antibiotics in milk is considered acceptable. “But milk sold in major towns in the country has levels exceeding 300 ppb,” said the officer.

High levels of penicillin were found in milk samples from Lalitpur, the findings show. Similarly, amoxicillin residue was high in samples from Pokhara (Kaski district) and Bhaktapur. Samples from Chitwan had high levels of ampicillin. “Milk sold in Kathmandu metropolis had high levels of all three antibiotics,” said Nayak.

Regular consumption of antibiotics cause inflaming of the urinary system, diseases of the skin, eyes and bones and brain cell damage, said Lama.

“Respiratory problems among kids may be linked to consumption of antibiotics,” she said. Uncontrolled consumption of antibiotics has a more severe effect. “Disease-causing microbes develop resistance against antibiotics and the drugs become ineffective,” she warned.

Meat contaminated

KATHMANDU: A study conducted by the Central Food Laboratory has shown that chicken meat on sale is also not safe. “We found high levels of antibiotics in chicken being sold in the Valley and in Chitwan,” said officials at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. They said of the 50 samples tested, 10 were found to have high levels of antibiotics. Five had ‘extreme’ levels of drugs. Tetracycline, sulfonamide, penicillin, aminoglycoside and micro lead were also found in chicken. —