Impact of health monitoring of clenbuterol in Guerrero, Mexico: Results from 2011 to 2015

Abstract

The use of clenbuterol in livestock production entails risks to human health that must be characterized and managed by the agricultural and health authorities. This work evaluated the results of the health surveillance program of this compound in bovine meat products that are commercialized in Guerrero, Mexico. A retrospective analysis of the evolution of the illegal use of clenbuterol and of the record of food poisoning with this chemical was carried out for the 2011–2015 period. The rate of positive samples decreased gradually to be 6.8 % in 2015 and, in general, was lower in comparison with the immediate antecedents; however, it was always higher than the average rates obtained in the rest of the country (Guerrero= 9.5 %, National= 5.8 %). The health jurisdictions with the greatest presence of the drug were Tierra Caliente and the North, with 12.1 and 16.8 %, respectively, as well as in locations with a large population like Acapulco (9.6 %). Few cases of human poisoning were reported in the first three years of the period (3 in 2011, 5 in 2012, and 4 in 2013) and none in the two subsequent years; however, there is an under-registration issue, which may be due to different individual, regional and institutional factors that are discussed further below. The progress observed in this program should be maintained by strengthening health surveillance with the aim to eradicate this illegal activity in the short term.