Taiwan McDonald's shrimp burgers suspended after carcinogen detected

Taiwan McDonald's has halted sales of its "Sea Flavor Shrimp Burger" and "Sea Flavor Double Shrimp Burger" after imported shrimp patties were found to contain nitrofuran and its metabolites. The company received notification from its importer on August 12th, prompting immediate precautionary measures.

The imported shrimp patties tested at 0.7 parts per billion of nitrofuran and its metabolites, exceeding food regulatory standards. Although the manufacturer provided certificates of analysis indicating compliance, McDonald's conducted its own sampling, which revealed the contamination. The company has since suspended the use of these shrimp patties and stopped selling the affected items across all its restaurants starting August 13th.

Dr. Yen Tsung-hai, a physician at the Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, explained that nitrofuran is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with potential carcinogenic effects, identified through animal studies. While human carcinogenicity has not been proven, most countries, including Taiwan, prohibit its use in aquaculture. Yen highlighted that beyond cancer concerns, antibiotic residues in food pose a significant risk of allergic reactions for sensitive individuals.

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducts annual checks on animal drug and pesticide residues in poultry, livestock, and aquatic products. While recent tests in March-April showed compliance, and past violations involved other veterinary drugs, this incident marks a specific concern regarding nitrofuran. The FDA's routine surveillance includes nitrofuran metabolites.

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The biggest problem with antibiotic residues in food is that they can trigger allergic reactions in people who are allergic to antibiotics.