Health Risk Assessment of Antibiotic Residues in Normally Slaughtered, Emergency-Slaughtered, and Imported Beef in...

Background/Objectives: Despite the widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, limited data are available on the presence of antibiotic residues in beef consumed in Egypt. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulphadimidine residues in beef marketed in Ismailia, Egypt. Methods: A total of 300 beef samples (100 each of normally slaughtered carcasses, emergency-slaughtered carcasses, and imported frozen beef cuts) were collected and analyzed for ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulphadimidine residues using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Dietary exposure and potential health risks were assessed using the hazard quotient (HQ). Results: The findings demonstrated that 27.7% (83/300), 37.0% (111/300), and 41.7% (125/300) of beef samples examined were contaminated with ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulphadimidine residues, respectively. The mean concentrations (µg/kg) for ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulphadimidine were 136.7, 245.5, and 209.7 in normally slaughtered beef; 260.2, 378.6, and 301.4 in emergency-slaughtered beef; and 242.8, 261.4, and 115.7 in imported frozen beef, respectively. Notably, 13%, 26%, and 22% of the samples analyzed exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union and the Codex Alimentarius Commission for ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulphadimidine, respectively. Emergency-slaughtered beef exhibited higher mean concentrations of antibiotic residues and a greater proportion of samples exceeding the MRLs. The HQ values of each antibiotic residue were higher in schoolchildren than in adults, with emergency-slaughtered beef samples exhibiting the highest HQ values for all three antibiotics. Conclusions: The detection of antibiotic residues, including concentrations exceeding established MRLs, particularly in emergency-slaughtered beef, highlights the crucial importance of complying with antibiotic withdrawal periods and rationalizing their use in veterinary medicine to protect public health.