(photo by Rick Tango)

There’s yet another food safety alert about the danger of an import from China. This time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert after finding Fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin and Enrofloxacin) residues in honey imported from China. Most honey sold in the U.S. is imported and China is the country's major source.

Here’s an excerpt from The FDA alert,

Fluoroquinolones are not generally recognized as safe…fluoroquinolones have been prohibited…because of concerns about the threat to public health. Fluoroquinolones used to treat any honey bee disease is considered to be an unapproved new animal drug…Furthermore, fluoroquinolones are not generally recognized as safe for any use in a manner that could…result in their becoming a component of honey…fluoroquinolones in honey are considered to be unsafe food additives…

Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota has called on the FDA to take stronger measures to prevent tainted honey from getting into the country. A report in North Dakota Ag Connection quotes Senator Conrad as stating,

Almost 70 percent of the honey consumed in our country is imported -- most of it from China. Unfortunately, China has a long track record of importing adulterated honey and engaging in other fraudulent conduct in the honey trade…These actions not only hurt honey producers in North Dakota and across the country, they also present needless health risks to our consumers.

To read the full report from the North Dakota Ag Connection go to: Conrad Calls on FDA to Block Tainted Honey

To read the alert from the FDA go to: U.S. Food and Drug Administration