Authors : Asim Kart , Mehmet Elmali , Kursat Yapar and Hilmi Yaman
Abstract: Anabolic agents are used to increase live body weight in food animals. Zeranol is such an agent applied to cattle as subcutaneous implants in some countries. There is the potential risks that zeranol could affect hormonal and mineral metabolisms and have carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Due to potential risks on animal and public health, use of zeranol as an anabolic agent was banned in Europian Union and in Turkey. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of zeranol in ground beef samples marketed in Kars city which is one of the important ports in food animal production in Turkey. Seventy ground beef samples were collected from the retail shops to monitor occurrence of zeranol. The quantitative analysis of zeranol in beef samples were carried out by Competitive Enzyme Immune Assay (ELISA) test procedure as described by R-Biofarm GmBH, Germany ((Ridascreen® Zeranol, Tissue Samples, muscle, liver, kidney etc. Art. No: R3301). Of the 70 ground beef samples analyzed, 66 samples (94.28%) had level of zeranol under the detection limit (62 ppt), while 4 samples out of 70 (5.72%) contained zeranol ranging from 100-110 ppt.
Asim Kart , Mehmet Elmali , Kursat Yapar and Hilmi Yaman , 2008. Occurrence of Zeranol in Ground Beef Produced in Kars, Turkey. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7: 630-632.