❱❱Poultry’sPerch
BY PAUL BREDWELL
FDA used un-validated science in removal of poultry anticoccidial
ince its beginning in the 1950s, the
poultry industry has relied on science
and technology to enhance its ability to
produce a safe, economical and wholesome
source of protein for the world’s population.
One tool that has made this goal possible is
the inclusion of arsenicals in poultry diets.
For more than sixty years, arsenicals have
been used to control the parasitic coccidia,
especially Eimeria tenella, to enhance the
health of the chicken’s intestinal tract.
Although the bene;ts realized from the
use of this product are numerous, the Food
and Drug Administration apparently re-
quested the drug’s manufacturer, Alpharma,
a subsidiary of P;zer, to withdraw it from the
market after completing a study that assessed
arsenic levels in birds fed Roxarsone. While
research is the mainstay of the poultry indus-
try’s ef;cacy, the research performed by the
S
100 birds, about half of which were fed
rations with Roxarsone. Although the
study showed varying levels of arsenic in
the liver, FDA reported that “total arsenic
more disconcerting is
the manner in which the
decision was reached.
analysis for both liver and muscle indicated
the mean of measured levels were below the
established tolerance values of 2,000 ppb
and 500 ppb.”
To be more precise, the level of total arse-
nic in tissue was an order of magnitude below
the allowable tolerances. In addition, the
study involved newly developed analytical
techniques, included extremely long sample
freezer storage periods, and utilized a feed
➚
Coccidiosis: Management of the most
frequently diagnosed disease in poultry
www.WAT TAgNet.com/3248.html
Reflection on the actions by FDA should
be sobering for anyone interested in maintaining
U.S. agricultural competitiveness and for our ability
to produce safe, healthy, affordable food products
for the world.
FDA lacks the scrutiny necessary to justify
FDA’s rushed judgment concerning the use
of Roxarsone in poultry feed diets.
formulation atypical of commercial poultry
feed, all issues that would likely be pointed
out had the study gone through a proper peer
review process.
Questionable rationale
and research
FDA’s rationale for requesting suspension of the sale of Roxarsone was based
on an FDA in-house study performed on
Different standard than
for approvals
Beyond the concerns over the technical issues regarding the study, what is
Paul J. Bredwell, III, P.E., is vice
president environmental programs,
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, phone
+ 1.770.493.9401, email pbredwell@
poultryegg.org.
