The National Food Safety Agency invites visitors to the agricultural show to discover its work and in particular how it identifies bacteria in milk or meat.
The International Agricultural Show just opened its doors this Saturday and until March 2. As every year, visitors will be able to discover local products, regional gastronomy or even green tourism, but also food security. Indeed, this annual event is also an unmissable event for the National Agency for Food and Environmental Safety (ANSES). This year, the Agency has decided to open the doors of its laboratories and invite adults and children to discover several experiences that are part of the daily life of its 11 benchmark institutes. DNA extraction, detection of veterinary drug residues in food, observation of bacteria under a microscope, scientists for a day will have the opportunity to better understand the mission of health authorities. Why actor was particularly interested in the Laboratory of Ferns, which carries out reference activities, in particular in the field of veterinary drug residues and coloring agents in foodstuffs of animal origin.
Detect traces of drugs in animal foods
The Fougères laboratory of ANSES mainly contributes to a better knowledge of the benefits and risks associated with the use of veterinary drugs and disinfectants as well as to the evaluation of the toxicity of residues and contaminants, by the agro sector. -food. “We both have a function of designing analytical methods for the search for residues in meat, milk, eggs or honey and we also run networks of laboratories which, on a daily basis, carry out official controls carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the self-checks carried out by milk manufacturers, for example, ”explains Pascal Sanders, director of the Fougères laboratory.
Listen to Pascal Sanders, director of the Fougères laboratory: “We put a small piece of meat on a Petri dish with bacteria that are very sensitive to antibiotics. If it doesn’t develop, there may be an antibiotic. “
The main concern of these scientists is therefore to protect the consumer from exposure to residues of antibiotics or other veterinary drugs through food at levels which would present a risk to public health. “It is the European agency which evaluates the data supplied by the veterinary medicinal products industry and which defines the admissible daily doses and therefore the maximum residue limit not to be exceeded in the various foodstuffs,” explains Pascal Sanders.
Listen to Pascal Sanders: ” We first check which molecule it is, eg penicillin and then we quantify the concentration. If it exceeds the maximum limit, the sample is non-compliant and the veterinary services go into action. “
How is the quality of milk controlled
To discover the “secrets” of these ANSES laboratories which, in particular, ensure the food safety of consumers, several workshops will be offered to visitors throughout the week. One of them will consist, for example, in showing the public what the screenings which are carried out on a daily basis on the milk that is delivered for processing in the dairy consist of. “We will show and explain the tests carried out in the dairy to verify the presence or absence of antibiotic residues. It’s a test that people could almost do at home, even if it doesn’t really matter. The basis of this test is the same strip principle as for a pregnancy test, ”adds Pascal Sanders.
Listen to Pascal Sanders: “Sometimes, in our daily lives, we forget that we are with consumers. Meeting the people you protect is always good for scientists. “
See you from February 22 to March 2, 2014, Porte de Versailles, Paris 15th.
Exhibition center, Hall 4, Aisle C, stand 119
.