Lidocaine use in pigs, cattle and horses.

The research discusses the concerns raised regarding the potential risks consumers might face due to the traces of lidocaine and its metabolites in milk and meat products. Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic authorized for use in horses, cats, and dogs in the UK. Although it’s used indicated to be safe for consumers, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) suggests a longer waiting period before taking milk from cows treated with lidocaine, ensuring safer levels for human consumption.

Risks of Lidocaine Residues

• Lidocaine is a locally acting anesthetic that’s authorised for use in cats, dogs, and horses in the UK. However, concerns have arisen in the Netherlands about the possible risks to consumers due to residues of this substance and its metabolites in meat and milk products.
• Following a review, CVMP opines that the risk from residues of lidocaine is negligible in meat products from cattle, pigs, and horses, provided some set protocols regarding the application time are adhered to.

Recommended Withdrawal Times for Meat and Milk

• For meat from cattle and pigs, it is recommended that they go through a minimum meat withdrawal period of 28 days after administration of Lidocaine.
• For horses, a zero-day withdrawal period is recommended after administering Lidocaine, indicating no waiting period is needed before horse meat can be deemed safe for consumption.
• However, when it comes to milk, CVMP believes the minimum withdrawal period of seven days is inadequate. Contingent on how this substance metabolizes in cows, it may linger for longer in milk, posing a potential danger for consumers.

New Recommendation for Milk

• Consequently, the CVMP advises that if lidocaine is given to cows that produce milk for human consumption, a longer waiting period is required to ensure the milk is safe for human intake.
• They recommend a minimum period of 15 days between the administration of lidocaine and taking milk from these animals for humans.
• This measure aims at safeguarding human health by ensuring that residuals of lidocaine in cows’ milk are at a safe level for consumption.