SWITZERLAND: Concerns over harmful nitrofuran found in food

Traces of the antibiotic nitrofuran, which is thought to cause cancer, have been found in a number of samples of imported poultry and shrimp, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. Forty-three of 121 tested samples of poultry and shrimp imported from Asia and South America were found to contain levels of nitrofuran that were above the safe limit.

September 26, 2002

Traces of the antibiotic nitrofuran, which is thought to cause cancer, have been found in a number of samples of imported poultry and shrimp, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.

Forty-three of 121 tested samples of poultry and shrimp imported from Asia and South America were found to contain levels of nitrofuran that were above the safe limit.

Switzerland imposed a safety limit on levels of nitrofuran on 14 August 2002, after traces of the antibiotic were found in poultry imported form China, reported Swiss News Digest.