BUCHAREST, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Romania is possibly involved in a new food scandal after Germany withdrew from the market on Wednesday turkey breast with residues of antibiotics that would come from Romania.
The information came from European rapid alert system, Vice President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) Vladimir Manastireanu was quoted as saying by local media.
"My colleges are in the investigation and we will see results in 4-7 days," said the official, adding that investigators have gone to the unit involved and there is no information if the products have reached the market in Romania.
"Situation is under control," Manastireanu stressed, promising that "I'll tell you where the meat reach after completion of investigation."
He explained that it is a batch of meat with residues of antibiotics, which would be exported from Romania. The meat also arrived in Britain and Austria.
"We do not hide anything to the media, yet we need to see if it confirms the words of the authorities in Germany," the ANSVSA said, adding that he does not know exactly the quantity involved.
According to the European system of alert, the turkey breast contained traces of enrofloxacin, an antibiotic used to treat various diseases, including respiratory, salmonella, staphylococcus or hepatitis.
Sampling took place in Germany on Feb. 7 and the results came Wednesday.
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was put in place to provide food and feed control authorities with an effective tool to exchange information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed.
This exchange of information helps its member states to act more rapidly and in a coordinated manner in response to a health threat caused by food or feed.
In recent days, Romania has also been plagued by a toxic milk scandal, after the ANSVSA discovered milk with a high level of aflatoxin at three local dairy farms and two milk processing units.
Aflatoxin increases the risk of cancer, especially liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
|
