Ottawa Orders Investigation into Drugs for
Livestock: Experts Fear Animals' Meat May Contain Growth
Hormones, Antibiotics, Carcinogens
By COLIN FREEZE
April 25, 2002
Citing public-health concerns, Health Canada has ordered an
investigation into the way that drugs are given to livestock.
The fear is unsuspecting consumers could be ingesting harmful chemicals by
eating meat from animals pumped full of drugs in unsanctioned and unhealthy
ways.
There is little data on the scope of the problem in Canada, but experts
suggest undetected drugs in meat could contain growth hormones, antibiotics
and carcinogens that are being passed on to humans or released into the
environment.
Among those who work with the animals, the issue is known as "extra-label
use" because the chemicals are being employed in ways not recommended by
drug manufacturers or drug regulators on the product labels.
"The extra-label use issue has been identified as a serious public-health
and food-safety concern," Health Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate says
in a request this month for a $300,000 study.
Understanding the issue is "considered to be a high priority for government
authorities," the directorate adds.
Farmers, feedlot operators and veterinarians are among those Health Canada
intends to survey.
The government is concerned about such things as excessive drug dosages, the
combining of different types of incompatible medicines, and certain
substances being given to animals that were never meant to take them -- pigs
receiving drugs meant for cattle, for instance, or animals getting medicines
meant for humans.
A number of serious problems could result from any of the above practices,
especially if traces of dangerous drugs end up on kitchen tables. Misused
antibiotics could lead to more virulent forms of bacteria, and countries
worried about Canada's safeguards could erect trade barriers.
Saying they have a great track record on safety, government regulators say
these concerns are merely hypothetical.
"Canadians should not be concerned about what they are eating," said Health
Canada spokesman Ryan Baker. "Canada has one of the safest food supplies in
the world, with many checks and balances in place."
In fact, farmers and ranchers point out it is very rare for Canadian meat to
be found with unacceptably high traces of drugs.
Critics, however, counter that Canada's regulatory regimes are too lax and
warning signals are being ignored.
Mike McBane of the Canadian Health Coalition, an activist group, complains
that a rush to speed food production and increase profit has resulted in
livestock being pumped full of antibiotics and other drugs in ways some
scientists have linked to early puberty and cancer.
"It's a huge problem," he said.
Two years ago, a European Commission fact-finding team came to Canada on a
10-day mission. Its members left with a litany of complaints -- including
the extra-label use of drugs.
The Europeans said they observed a "hormone-free" cattle lot where evidence
indicated veterinary drugs for dogs and cats were being used. In another
instance, they found the unapproved use of hormone drugs on veal calves.
Most worrisome to the team were hormone growth promoters (HGP) and a
substance that has been linked to cancer called diethylstilbestrol (DES).
"There are inadequate restrictions on the extra-label use of veterinary
drugs, especially as regards DES and HGPs," the European inspectors wrote.
"Extra-label use of over-the-counter drugs by farmers and feedlot operators
is permitted."
Canadian regulators had qualms with the European findings -- and in a
rebuttal wrote that some assertions were factual errors. Still, Health
Canada is now taking a closer look at the issue.
The winner of the Health Canada contract will be expected to do some
sleuthing, and draw sources from the ranks of farmers, producers and
breeders.
"These individuals could be very reluctant to provide any information on
extra-label drug usage [that] may be detrimental to their reputation," the
request-for-study proposal says, explaining that anonymous sources are
permitted.
Not all extra-label use of drugs is regarded as dangerous. Sometimes,
veterinarians say, they disregard manufacturers' recommendations for doses
that are too low to work.
Dr. Diane McKelvey, a British Columbia veterinarian who has studied aspects
of the issue for Health Canada, said: "I don't think the problem lies with
veterinarians. The problem lies with unrestricted access that laypeople have
to drugs, mainly coming from offshore, or raw chemicals used as drugs."
Cindy McCreath of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association said concerns about
drugs in cattle are mostly unwarranted. "Understand that they do test for
residue, and there is virtually a zero-per-cent result in beef," she said.
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