Survey of Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides, Sulfamethazine, and Quinolones in UHT Milk in China Market

This study surveyed 180 samples of ultra high temperature (UHT) milk of four top Chinese dairy brands collected in the 25 cities in China in June 2011, and assessed their contamination with antibiotics, using the ELISA method. The percentages of tetracyclines, sulfonamides, sulfamethazine, and quinolones detected in the samples were 0, 16.7, 40.6, and 100%, respectively. The maximum concentrations of the tetracyclines, sulfonamides, sulfamethazine and quinolones in UHT milk samples were <1.5, 26.2, 22.6, and 58.8 μg kg−1, respectively. None of the samples exceeded the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for these four veterinary drugs, according to the regulations set by China, the European Union (EU) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).