E715 – Avoparci

Description

Glycopeptide antibiotic used as a growth promoter in animal feed

Risks

Notes

Avoparcin is a glycopeptide antibiotic, meaning it combines sugar molecules with protein-like structures to create its active form. It's produced through fermentation processes using specific bacteria, similar to how other antibiotics are manufactured. The compound is designed to interfere with bacterial cell wall formation, making it effective as both a treatment and prevention tool. This antibiotic was primarily used as a growth promoter in animal feed, particularly for pigs, chickens, and cattle. It helped improve feed conversion rates - meaning animals could gain more weight from the same amount of feed - while also preventing certain bacterial infections that could harm livestock health and productivity. Avoparcin is a synthetic antibiotic, but it's important to note that its use has been banned in many countries, including throughout the European Union, since the late 1990s. This ban occurred because avoparcin is chemically similar to vancomycin, an important 'last resort' antibiotic used in human medicine, and there were concerns that its use in animals could contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans. In regions where it's still permitted, its use is heavily regulated with strict withdrawal periods before animals can enter the food chain.