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Ochratoxin A assay and histopathological examination of 1000 pig kidneys condemned for slaughter from two pig abattoirs were carried out to identify any causal effect between levels of this contaminant and nephritis.
This work contributed to a project undertaken by Defra. The extent of the Agency's involvement was to provide funding for determination of ochratoxin A in kidneys removed from condemned carcasses. Nephritis is a common cause of condemnation of pig kidneys in Britain. Recorded data from the Meat Hygiene Service show that that the level of recorded pig kidney condemnations in Britain due to nephritis increased from an average of 0.8% in 1995 to 2.3% in the winter of 2001. These data also indicated that total kidney condemnations for all reasons increased from 1.5 to 5.5% in the same period. These data indicate that the increase in condemnations started in late 1996 to early 1997. Ochratoxicosis is a recognised cause of nephropathy in pigs so it was necessary to measure the levels of ochratoxin A from those identified at slaughter.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.