E708 – Penicillin G benzathine

Description

Antibiotic used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections

Risks

Notes

E708 is related to virginiamycin, an antibiotic compound produced by certain bacteria called Streptomyces virginiae. These soil-dwelling bacteria naturally create virginiamycin as a way to compete with other microorganisms in their environment. The antibiotic is obtained by growing these bacteria in controlled fermentation tanks, then extracting and purifying the active compounds they produce. Virginiamycin and its related compounds work by stopping bacteria from making proteins they need to survive, effectively killing them or preventing their growth. While this makes it theoretically useful as a food preservative, E708 has primarily been used in veterinary medicine and animal feed rather than directly in human food. Its main application has been promoting growth in livestock and preventing bacterial infections in farm animals. E708 is not approved for direct use in food for human consumption in most developed countries due to antibiotic resistance concerns. Health authorities worry that using antibiotics like virginiamycin in food could contribute to the development of 'superbugs' – bacteria that don't respond to antibiotic treatment. Even its use in animal agriculture is being restricted or banned in many regions. This additive is not suitable for any dietary approach due to these serious safety considerations and regulatory restrictions.