Nitrofurans

Fera’s food safety experts use accredited analytical methods to detect and quantify Nitrofuran residues within a wide range of food samples. Our results provide the clear, regulatory-ready evidence required to verify compliance and support effective due diligence.

Nitrofurans are synthetic, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents prohibited for use in food-producing animals in the European Union (EU). Following administration, Nitrofuran metabolites covalently bind to proteins, remaining detectable for several weeks and providing reliable marker residues.

Nitrofurans and their metabolites have an established Reference Point for Action (RPA) under Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1871. As a result, appropriate monitoring is required to ensure residues are not present in food of animal origin.

Fera’s method detects marker residues for: AOZ (furazolidone), AMOZ (furaltadone), AHD (nitrofurantoin), SEM (nitrofurazone) and DNSH (nifursol).

The presence of SEM can originate from sources unrelated to the veterinary drug nitrofurazone, including azodicarbonamide in jar and bottle gaskets, flour treatment agents, or from crustacean shells after heat treatment. To avoid false positives, any SEM screen-positive samples undergo re-analysis with a pre-treatment step to confirm whether the detected residue is chemically bound and therefore indicative of true administration.

The analytical method uses acid hydrolysis followed by derivatisation with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2-NBA). Testing is performed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Methods are validated in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

A Minimum Required Performance Limit (MRPL) of 1 μg/kg is established for the metabolites of furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone for poultry meat and aquaculture products (Commission Decision 2003/181/EC). In practice, these levels are applied across additional commodities including muscle, offal, milk and eggs.

Standard turnaround is 10 working days. Only 200–250 g of sample is required.

Confirmatory Analysis

Where required, confirmatory analysis will be charged at the same rate as the primary test. We will contact you before proceeding. Results will be delivered within 10 working days of your instruction.