Occurrence and dietary risk assessment of chloramphenicol residues in honey products in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with potentially fatal side effects, including suspected carcinogenicity and toxicity in sensitive individuals. Due to these risks, CAP has been banned in food-producing animals, including honey, by regulatory authorities worldwide. This study investigates the presence of CAP residues in honey products from the Saudi market and evaluates the associated dietary exposure risk. Methods: A total of 902 honey samples collected during 2018-2019 were retrieved from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to investigate honey safety and chemical components. CAP was extracted using a validated liquid-liquid extraction method and quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Dietary exposure was assessed using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach, with relevant data on honey consumption and body weight sourced from published studies. Results: CAP residues were detected in 54 (6 %) of the tested honey samples, with a mean concentration of 0.16 ± 0.032 µg/kg. The 95th percentile MOE for adults was 31,752 in the lower-bound scenario and 24,290 in the upper-bound scenario, exceeding the critical threshold of 10,000 established by the European Food Safety Authority, which indicates low public health concern and low priority for risk management. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a low health risk associated with honey consumption in Saudi Arabia, as MOE values exceeded the critical safety threshold. However, ongoing monitoring, stricter regulations, and enhanced awareness are recommended to ensure the safety and quality of honey products.