The United States’ poultry industry is the world’s largest producer and second largest exporter of poultry meat. Now, a 67 year old, yes 67, year old drug used to control coccidiosis in chickens is being pulled from the usage market. Named Roxarsone, this compound contains levels of organic arsenic that can convert into inorganic arsenic which is a bad thing for humans. This is a logical withdrawal by the FDA and manufacturer Pfizer, but no need to panic. There will be no recalls of one of America’s favorite proteins.
The drug, also known as 3-Nitro, was approved by the FDA in 1944 and has been used in broiler chickens to control intestinal disease and also to speed up weight gain, feed efficiency and improve color of the meat.
The thing is, organic arsenic can be found everywhere, but this carcinogen has been converting to the bad kind at higher levels than ever before.
Now only one approved animal drug containing arsenic remains. Nitarsone is also used in chickens and turkeys. Although the FDA has not looked deeply into this drug in particular, they state they will be in the next few months.
However, don’t freak out and hold off on your Sunday family dinners and chicken wings.
According to the FDA:
“Until recently, scientific evidence indicated that animals exposed to organic arsenic rapidly excrete the compound in its original form as organic arsenic. FDA approved the product at doses and withdrawal times that, based on this available information, allowed for the safe and effective use of the product when used according to the label directions.”
Dr. Bernadette Dunham, director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine continued at a news conference:
“The levels of inorganic arsenic found in chicken livers are very low and represent a very low health risk to people who eat chicken. Consumers can continue to eat chicken as 3-Nitro is suspended from the market. Furthermore, FDA does not believe there is a need to recall chicken already in commerce.”
At the time 3-Nitro was approved in 1944, it was assumed that the organic arsenic in 3-Nitro would be excreted as organic arsenic, which is not known to cause cancer.
Alpharma, who Pfizer only recently acquired, will continue selling 3-Nitro for the next month, which the company says will allow time for chicken farmers to find alternate ways of protecting their animals from coccidiosis.
While coccidian organisms can infect a wide variety of animals, including humans, birds, and livestock, they are usually species specific. The infectious organisms are not contagious to humans Arsenic is simply one of the most toxic elements that can be found. Despite their toxic effect, inorganic arsenic bonds occur on earth naturally in small amounts. Humans may be exposed to arsenic through food, water and air. Exposure may also occur through skin contact with soil or water that contains arsenic.
Levels of arsenic in food are fairly low, as it is not added due to its toxicity. But levels of arsenic in fish and seafood may be high, because fish absorb arsenic from the water they live in. Luckily this is mainly the fairly harmless organic form of arsenic, but fish that contain significant amounts of inorganic arsenic may be a danger to human health.
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Written by Sy Kraft