Estimated dietary exposure to veterinary residues in chicken and eggs

Background Chicken tissues and eggs were analyzed for residues of eight veterinary drugs including albendazole, piperazine, tiamulin, chloramphenicol, levamisole, sulphathiazole, sulphamethoxazole and oxytetracyclineoxytetracycline. Results Mean residue concentrations of all drugs varied by tissue and ranged from 0.004 μg/kg for tiamulin in eggs to 8.6 μg/kg for chloramphenicol in liver. Total residues of all drugs in the liver generally exceeded that of the kidney, muscles and eggs by at least a two-fold difference. The general order of decreasing total drug residue levels is liver > kidney > muscle > eggs. The exposure due to albendazole and sulphamethoxazole in liver were 2- and 7-folds higher than their recommended average daily intake. Exposure due to piperazine, sulphamethoxazole, levamisole and tiamulin were, however, lower than their respective recommended limits. Conclusion Dietary exposure assessments of all drugs based on quantitated residue levels are within the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives safe regulatory exposure limits. This study informs the public about veterinary drug residues in poultry and helps address policy and regulatory changes in the use of veterinary drugs in poultry.