Feb 1,2020
Food safety is a major global concern. Intensive research on food safety has identified that food stuffs contaminated by pesticides, heavy metals and/or toxins are potential risk to human beings. Heavy metals, in general are not biodegradable, having long biological half-lives and have the potential tendency for accumulation in the different body organs leading to unwanted side effects. These metals can pose a significant health risk to humans, particularly in elevated concentrations above the very low body requirements. Ingestion of these contaminants by animals causes deposition of residues in meat. This can be extremely detrimental and critical, keeping in view the toxic nature and extreme negative effects of these heavy metals on humans, and the high use of animal meat as a food source globally. Hence contamination with heavy metals is a serious threat because of their toxicity and bio-accumulation in food chain.
In general, a metal with a specific gravity greater than about 5.0, especially one that is poisonous is known as heavy metal. Among heavy metals, Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg) are cumulative poison. These heavy metals persistently accumulate and are not metabolized to other intermediate compounds. They do not easily breakdown in environment. These metals are also potent carcinogens and mutagens. Hg, Pb, Cd, and As can also cause neurological signs such as blindness, anemia, soft-shelled eggs, kidney and renal damage, and sudden death in livestock and considered as highly toxic.
Since heavy metals have a highly toxic nature, even at relatively minute concentrations, therefore it is of utmost importance, both for food safety and human health, to closely monitor their concentration in milk, meat, fish and their products, so as to minimize the risk of heavy metal contamination. Owing to their toxicity and their possible bio-accumulation, these compounds should be subjected to mandatory monitoring.
The ultimate source of all metallic elements present in our ecosystem is the earth’s crust. Heavy metals usually occur naturally in the soil environment, but may also be present due to the various anthropogenic activities. Trace mineral premixes which are meant to be used in animal feed are one of the most potent carriers of heavy metals apart from other sources of contamination like drinking water, feed ingredients, and environment through polluted air and aerial sprays in animal rearing area. The risk of heavy metal contamination associated with trace mineral premix is a concern for feed manufacturers and the farmers. They should confirm whether their trace mineral supplier companies are implementing a quality assurance program that addresses their concern. Quality control has to be at the top of each feed manufacturer’s and farmer’s list whilst choosing a trace mineral premix supplier.
Avitech is today a leading company in the feed additives and premix sector in India and a key supplier to leading feed millers in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Avitech exports specialized feed additives to several countries in South-East Asia and Africa. Avitech’s Analytical Division is maintaining a laboratory quality system as per international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and accredited by NABL. The quality system includes continuous training of its analysts, using validated test procedures and maintaining international traceability in standards and analytical instruments being used to ensure a reproducible and credible test result.
Avitech has taken a major step to implement the standards in a more professional way to provide greater assurance to its customers by augmenting the test facility of Analytical Division. An Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Make M/S Agilent, Model 240 FS) with VGA accessory has been installed recently. This instrument is capable of analyzing even volatile elements like Mercury or Arsenic at ppb level concentrations.
With its long standing experience, growing investment in research, pool of skilled manpower, state of the art laboratory and production facility, Avitech is committed to serving the industry with quality premixes and products.