CLENBUTEROL RESIDUES IN NONLIVER CONTAINING MEAT AS A CAUSE OF COLLECTIVE FOOD POISONING

beta(2)-adrenergic agonists, particularly clenbuterol, are illegally u sed as growth promoters to obtain lean in meat. Their administration i n feedlots can constitute a severe risk for animal welfare and exposes consumers to involuntary drug consumption at pharmacological active c oncentrations. Reported poisoning episodes have been associated with t he consumption of beef liver where clenbuterol residues concentrate. I n August 1996, 62 persons asked for medical help at the emergency room s of 2 hospitals near the city of Caserta (Italy). Their clinical prof ile was characteristic of previously occurring clenbuterol intoxicatio n, which reported superventricular extrasystoles and atrial fibrillati on. All patients had non-liver beef meat consumption 10-30 min to 2-3 h before symptoms developed. An ELISA screening test specific for clen buterol confirmed the drug's presence. Definitive confirmation of clen buterol and determination of the drug content in meat samples were obt ained by GC-MS, using 2 different derivatization. Concentrations in th e meats ranged from 0.8 to 7.4 mg/kg. These analytical data provided e vidence of the seriousness of the poisoning and helped the National He alth System identify other possible misinterpreted cases. This case de monstrates that clenbuterol poisoning can also occur after consumption of beef meat other than liver.