Thursday, May 25, 2006

US Checking Chinese Honey for Antibiotic Traces

Chinese Honey Being Checked For Antibiotics
Jim Ash, Tallahassee Democrat, 5/24/2006

State and federal officials are investigating an anonymous tip that that a batch of Chinese honey imported to Central Florida contains trace amounts of antibiotics, officials confirmed today.

"It is my understanding that this is not a safety issue, but that we are testing for it," said Liz Compton, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

State investigators demanded samples from several distributors in the Orlando area in January, Compton said. She declined to name the distributors, but said the honey is used in commercial food processing and was not bound for retail shelves.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that the agency is participating. Technicians are testing for a class of drugs called "fluoroquinolones" that beekeepers use to treat "Foulbrood disease."…

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