Antibiotics give Belgium new food scare

February 12, 2002

BRUSSELS - Belgian health authorities said they had found allergy-causing

antibiotics in animal feed, the third food scare this year for a country

still recovering from a major contamination in 1999.

The Belgian Food Safety Authority (AFSCA) said it had found traces of

sulphonimide - an antibiotic that can contaminate eggs and cause skin

allergy to humans - in chicken feed originating from a firm at Ooigem, in

western Belgium.

" Sulphonimide was found in a sample of feed for laying hens produced by the

firm Vandenavenne at Ooigem, " AFSCA said in a statement. Officials of the

company could not be reached for comment.

The AFSCA said Belgian authorities had imposed administrative sanctions on

the company and seized all outgoing feed. But some contaminated feed had

escaped, heading for Luxembourg.

" We know that contaminated feed has been sent to Luxembourg and we have

informed the local authorities, " an AFSCA spokesman said.

A European Commission spokeswoman said the EU's executive was aware of the

feed contamination and had informed other European Union members, a routine

procedure in such cases.

Sulphonamide is authorised as a component of feed for pigs and poultry. But

it is banned in feed for laying hens as it can contaminate the eggs.

Belgium saw its meat and dairy exports banned by many countries in 1999 as a

result of a cancer-causing dioxins entering the food chain.

The year's first scare occurred last month when the AFSCA discovered

cancer-causing polychorinate biphenyls (PCBs) in pig and chicken feed,

causing the seizure of thousands of pork and chicken pieces.

Last week a new food scare erupted when shards of glass were found in a

bottle of baby food, forcing manufacturer Olvarit-Nutricia to recall more

than 100,000 bottles.

Story Date: 12/2/2002

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