Antibiotics Found in Beef Labelled as ‘Antibiotic-Free’
A recent article from Sentient News reveals that in August of last year, US food safety inspectors discovered antibiotics in beef products marked as “raised without antibiotics.” Despite these findings, no enforcement action was taken.
Documents obtained indicate that several major meat producers were notified that their cattle tested positive for antibiotics that are banned under the approved “antibiotic-free” labels. Alarmingly, around 20% of the tested samples labelled as such contained antibiotics.
Public health experts say these findings cast serious doubt on the integrity of such labelling and highlight a lack of oversight. While the presence of antibiotic residue does not pose an immediate health risk, it contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a growing global health threat, according to the World Health Organisation.
The current system relies heavily on self-reported claims from meat producers, with minimal independent verification. Though the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) advised companies to investigate how antibiotics entered their supply chains, it did not enforce changes or require third-party testing.
Experts argue the voluntary nature of this certification leaves it open to abuse. Consumers may pay more for meat they believe is antibiotic-free, while regulators continue to approve misleading labels. This controversy underscores the need for stricter regulation and greater transparency in food labelling, especially as antibiotic resistance continues to threaten public health.
To help aid antibiotic testing within the industry, Randox Food Diagnostics offers the technology for in-house drug residue screening of meat, urine and feed samples on the Evidence Investigator analyser. This allows users to test up to 48 meat samples for antibiotics, growth promoters, anthelmintics, coccidiostats and steroids in under 2.5 hours using the revolutionary Biochip Array Technology.
A range of rapid and accurate ELISA kits has also been developed for antibiotic testing within meat tissues.
For more information on our vast range of screening arrays available, please get in touch with us at: info@randoxfood.com