Coccidiostat residues in withdrawal feed for broilers – implications of cross-contamination in feed production lines

Milenko Babić; Zoran Petrović; Nikola Borjan; Ognjen Krnjaja; Damjan Gavrilović; Čaba Silađi; Sanin Tanković

doi:10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.91

Milenko Babić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6467-6757
Zoran Petrović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2016-5681
Nikola Borjan Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4067-3755
Ognjen Krnjaja Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2242-0457
Damjan Gavrilović Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3786-496X
Čaba Silađi Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1933-3849
Sanin Tanković Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.91

Keywords: coccidiostat, residue, feed, carry-over, broiler, cross-contamination

Abstract

This study investigated the presence of residues of eleven coccidiostats in unmedicated feed intended for broilers in the withdrawal phase, with the aim of assessing potential cross-contamination during feed production. Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 341 feed samples were analysed, using validated LC-MS/MS methodology, for amprolium, diclazuril, halofuginone, lasalocid, salinomycin, maduramycin, monensin, narasin, nicarbazin, robenidine, semduramycin. Detected concentrations ranged from below the limit of quantification to 85.0 mg/kg. Non-compliant samples were identified for diclazuril (2/243), lasalocid (1/328), salinomycin (12/329), maduramycin (11/324), monensin (6/324), narasin (6/315), nicarbazin (2/327), and robenidine (7/333). The highest detected concentrations per analyte were: diclazuril 0.133 mg/kg, lasalocid 1.33 mg/kg, salinomycin 85.0 mg/kg, maduramycin 0.834 mg/kg, monensin 25.30 mg/kg, narasin 58.15 mg/kg, nicarbazin 33.70 mg/kg, and robenidine 35.2 mg/kg. Amprolium, halofuginone, semduramycin were not detected in any feed sample. Overall, 42 out of 341 feed samples (12.3%) exceeded the maximum permitted levels, indicating insufficient cleaning of production lines and inadequate separation between medicated and non-medicated feed. The occurrence of such residues in feed intended for broilers in the withdrawal phase poses a risk of non-compliant residues in edible tissues, highlighting the need for stricter hygiene protocols, improved quality control in feed mills, and continuous monitoring to safeguard food safety and public health.