Tests on imported shrimp, prawns and crabs farmed in ponds and tanks have shown no detectable levels of residues from antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs, food safety officials say.
The Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) tested 30 random samples of imported land based aquaculture products (ILBA) from Thailand, Vietnam, India, Japan, China and Peru for triphenylmethylene dyes, nitrofurans, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines.
"These chemicals are sometimes used in land-based aquaculture to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus," NZFSA's principal adviser on chemicals Paul Dansted said.
The survey, part of a food residue surveillance programme, detected no anti-microbial residues. The Customs Service coordinated the sampling process through its Auckland clearing house.
NZFSA last sampled land-based aquaculture foods from China in July 2007, and found the few samples that did have residues were at very low levels with no risk to health.
Dr Dansted said the latest round of monitoring was in addition to routine checks on high risk goods, which are tested at the border.
