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Nitrofurans
Level 5 — High concernIn Winter's Dictionary
Nitrofurans is a veterinary drug — Antibiotics formerly used in food-producing animals; now banned in EU/US/Canada
What it does
Antibiotics formerly used in food-producing animals; now banned in EU/US/Canada
Where you'll see it
(banned in most jurisdictions); some shrimp/prawns from Southeast Asia, freshwater catfish from Canada have residues
What the research says
May pose human health risk from drug toxicity, allergies, and cancer potential.
Regulatory status
- US FDA: BAN
- EU: banned
- Notes: Banned for food-producing animals in EU, US, Canada; still used in New Zealand poultry
Sources
- A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Consumption of foods contaminated with nitrofurans may pose a human health risk related to the inherent toxicity of the drug and the potential to cause allergies and cancer