THE Veterinary Services yesterday assured that none of the cow milk injected with a banned substance had made it to shop stores, but doubts persisted as the possibility could not be entirely ruled out.
It emerged that a private veterinarian had been using the substance metronidazole to treat cows. Metronidazole, an antibiotic, is a suspected human carcinogen but is used to treat infections such as abdominal infections, bone and joint infections and gynecologic infections. Because of the potential risk, dosages to patients are strictly regulated. By contrast, EU law prohibits use of the antibiotic in animals that produce foodstuffs.
Apparently the discovery was made last week by a team of EU inspectors during a routine visit to the clinic of the same vet. Once it transpired that the doctor was providing his services to a number of farms, authorities went on full alert trying to trace any of the affected milk in time.
A statement released by the Veterinary Services yesterday sought to allay fears, saying the “possibility of any tainted milk affecting consumers’ health was extremely remote.” It explained that the amount of milk containing the antibiotic (30 litres, according to authorities) would have been mixed in with about 10-20 tons before being processed as a dairy product – meaning that the harmful antibiotic was diluted to the point of being harmless.
The Veterinary Services also said it moved quickly to destroy milk produced by all cows found to have been treated with metronidazole, and that samples were being carried out and analyses made on a continual basis.
Similar reassurances were given by the cow farmers’ association, with a spokesman saying there was “no chance” people would consume bad milk or cheese because the controls in place were more than adequate.
In any case, he added, fines slapped on farmers for using banned substances were prohibitive (ranging from £2,000 to £8,000), so it was not worth it for them to take the risk.
But the Consumers’ Association begged to differ. Association head Petros Marcou pointed out that so far only 18 of the 21 farms whose cows were injected with the antibiotic have been accounted for.
“We still have some reservations that the situation is under control, so we’re waiting for an update on the ongoing lab analyses,” Marcou told the Cyprus Mail.
“But that’s not the point; what really is worrying is the apparent lack of proper surveillance. When you think about it, it was the EU inspectors who stumbled on this.”
Marcou also wondered whether farmers and veterinarians are properly informed on what substances they can and cannot use.
“This is the government’s job. It’s all about prevention. We need to know that this sort of thing will not happen again.”
Back in March, authorities detected traces of antibiotics and antibacterial agents in fresh goat’s milk; and although very few of the contaminated batches had reached shops, the fact remained that the industry’s failsafes were flawed.
And a number of other incidents involving bad foodstuffs on the market have been documented lately. Critics say that, were it nor for the implementation of tough EU laws starting last May, people would still not know if what they put on their table was safe.
