Vietnam scrutinizes animal-feed steroid

07-06-06

The Vietnamese Government has launched a widespread investigation into a hazardous growth-promoting drug used in livestock feed, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development announced at a conference Thursday.

The drug clenbuterol is a growth-promoting steroid in the beta-agonist class of compounds. Its ability to induce weight gain and a greater proportion of muscle to fat makes its illegal use in livestock popular.

Clenbuterol residues, banned in the Vietnamese breeding industry, can affect lung and heart function in persons who have eaten liver or meat of animals given the drug.

A recent test of pork carried out by the Southern Institute of Technological Agriculture revealed that 6 percent of the samples had clenbuterol residues.

Another examination of poultry conducted by the HCMC Veterinary Bureau found clenbuterol in 15.57 percent of the specimens.

In June, the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development randomly sampled livestock farms and found clenbuterol residue in 6 percent of the samples.

The ministry is still collecting pork and poultry for sampling, an official responsible for the investigation said.