Researchers again claimed that they have found traces of antibiotics in 10 samples of pasteurised and unpasteurised milk produced by Pran and several companies. Such findings initiated talks, worries, tensions among people on food and health issues. Because these packaged milk are regular items to buy and sell in kitchen markets throughout the country.
Ten samples – seven pasteurised and three unpasteurised - were again tested last week, said in a press release signed by Prof ABM Faruque, the former director of Dhaka University's Biomedical Research Centre.
New tests found four antibiotics in three samples, three antibiotics in six samples and two in one sample.
Are the Antibiotics found in ‘packaged milk’ hazardous for human health?
The second phase of research work found different antibiotics in 10 samples of pasteurised and unpasteurised milk by packaged food giants Pran, Aarong, Igloo, Milk Vita, and Farm Fresh.
The antibiotics are-- Oxytetracycline, Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin.
Professor ABM Faruque, the research chief talked with Barta24.com about the health hazards of taking these antibiotics with food.
He said: “Antibiotics never work same in human body and other animals. If a cow got human antibiotics then it can enter to human body by meat and milk. It is hazardous for human health.”
Prof. Faruque emphasized: “We found antibiotics for human treatments in all the samples and it is dangerous. Taking antibiotics with food without any bacterial ailings can do serious harm in the immune system of the human body.”
“Taking extra antibiotics ruin useful bacteria in the human body,” he also alarmed.
According to the antibiotic medicine experts-- Antibiotics don’t know whether there’s a reason they’re being taken. They have chemical actions which target bacterial functions regardless of whether those bacteria are a part of one’s normal flora (microbiome) or not. Some of the bacterial functions targeted exist in human cells as well.
Because invasive bacteria, whether from outside the body or inside (invading an area beyond their usual location, such as a urinary tract infection), typically elicit an inflammatory immune reaction, the purpose of antibiotics is to speed or ensure the elimination of the infection. Ideally this occurs with a relatively short course of use, so that “collateral damage” to non-pathogenic bacteria or to normal tissues is minimized. The better the antibiotic can “target” the pathogen, or the shorter the course needed, the less likely it is to disrupt the normal flora and result in side effects like diarrhea. (Some side effects, such as allergic reactions or headaches, are not a result of antimicrobial actions.)
A brief of antibiotics found in Pran and other company’s packaged pasteurised milk --
Oxytetracycline
Oxytetracycline works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to produce essential proteins. Without these proteins, the bacteria cannot grow, multiply and increase in numbers. Oxytetracycline therefore stops the spread of the infection and the remaining bacteria are killed by the immune system or eventually die.
Enrofloxacin
Enrofloxacin (ENR) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic is currently approved for the treatment of individual pets and domestic animals in the United States. In September 2005, the FDA withdrew approval of Baytril for use in water to treat flocks of poultry, as this practice was noted to promote the evolution of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of the bacterium Campylobacter, a human pathogen.
Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Using any antibiotic when it is not needed can cause it to not work for future infections.
Ciprofloxacin
This medication is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of drugs called quinolone antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.This antibiotic treats only bacterial infections. It will not work for virus infections (such as common cold, flu). Unnecessary use or overuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.