Import Alert 16-127

"Detention Without Physical Examination of Crabmeat Due to Chloramphenicol"

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is not approved for use in food producing animals and has been prohibited from extra-label uses in food producing animals in the United States (U.S.).

Use of the antibiotic in humans, in the U.S., is reserved for treatment of certain serious, potentially life-threatening infections. Therapeutic doses correlate with a low incidence (1:30,000 to 1:50,000) of serious and potentially fatal blood disorders, such as idiosyncratic aplastic anemia.

Since these adverse reactions are idiosyncratic and are not dose related, no one has yet been able to determine a safe level of exposure to chloramphenicol.

Chloramphenicol is suspected to be a carcinogen and may potentially affect the reproductive system in humans.

Districts may detain, without physical examination (DWPE), the products from the firms identified in the Red List to this alert.

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science at 301 796-6600.

All requests for removal from detention without physical examination should be address to DIOP 301-796-0356.

Crabmeat

"The article is subject to refusal of admission, pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be adulterated in that it bears or contains a poisonous or deleterious substance, namely, chloramphenicol, which may render it injurious to health, which is in violation of Section 402(a)(1)."

OASIS charge code - POIS CHLOR

AND

"The article is subject to refusal of admission, pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be adulterated in that it bears or contains a food additive, namely, chloramphenicol, that is unsafe within the meaning of section 409, which is in violation of Section 402(a)(2)(C)(i)."

OASIS charge code - CHLORAMP