Avoparcin

Food additives Europe numbers: E715 
 

Avoparcin is an interesting case. While it was once an antibiotic used in animals, its use is now banned due to potential risks. Here's what you need to know:

Previous Use:

• Avoparcin was an antibiotic belonging to the glycopeptide class [1].
• It was primarily used as a growth promoter in animal feed for poultry, pigs, and cattle [1, 2].

Why it's Banned:

• Avoparcin shares some structural similarities with another critical class of glycopeptide antibiotics used in human medicine – vancomycin – which is a last-resort treatment for serious infections [2, 3].
• There was concern that Avoparcin use in animals could contribute to the development of vancomycin-resistant bacteria in humans. These bacteria pose a significant threat as they become difficult to treat with available antibiotics [2, 3].

Ban on Use:

• As a precautionary measure, the European Union banned the use of Avoparcin as a feed additive in 1997 [2].
• Similar restrictions likely exist in other countries as well.

Current Status:

• Avoparcin is no longer a valid medical substance due to the ban.
• Research on Avoparcin most likely focuses on its potential risks and not on any therapeutic applications.