Antimicrobial residues present in milk can have many adverse effects for public health and for the dairy industry. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of antibiotics using the Charm-test™ kit (beta-lactams and sulfonamides, mainly) in 210 raw milk samples collected in four different milk-producing areas in Brazil: 47 in Viçosa - MG, 50 in Pelotas - RS, 63 in Londrina - PR and 50 in Botucatu - SP. Antibiotic residues were detected in 24 samples (11.4%). Among them, 13 (20.6%) were from Londrina - PR, 4 (8.0%) from Botucatu - SP, 4 (8.5%) from Viçosa - MG, and 3 (6.0%) from Pelotas - RS. Despite being qualitative results only, it is evident that antibiotics may be an important chemical hazard in milk produced in Brazil.
antibiotics; milk; Charm-test™
