Incidence of residues of nine anticoccidials in eggs

Abstract

A survey of the presence of residues of anticoccidials was performed. Three hundred and twenty egg samples, purchased in eight different European countries, were analysed for the presence of nine different compounds: dimetridazole, diclazuril, halofuginone, robenidine, nicarbazin, narasin, salinomycin, lasalocid and monensin. Analyses were performed by LC-MS/MS. Of the samples analysed, 114 (35.6%) contained one or more of the nine anticoccidials in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 63 µg kg⁻¹. Salinomycin and lasalocid account for more than 60% of all positive samples. Almost 90% of all positive samples contained less than 2 µg kg⁻¹. Results were put into perspective of the farming method and country of origin.

Keywords:

• Residues
• anticoccidials
• eggs
• monitoring

Acknowledgements

Work was sponsored by the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office within the framework of the Sustainable Development Policy (PODO II) programme ‘Production and Consumption Patterns’. The authors thank Janssen Animal Health, Alpharma and Intervet for kindly supplying the standards. The authors thank Petra De Neve, Luc Batjoens and Patricia Van Herreweghe for practical assistance during the analysis of samples. Also many thanks to everyone who helped in the collection of eggs.