The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that Federal Marshals have taken into their possession imported bulk honey worth $32,000. The honey was imported from China and contains a potent antibiotic known as chloramphenicol.
The Federal Marshals took hold of the honey from the Delaware Avenue Distribution Center in Philadelphia. The alleged drug is not permitted to be used for food items, for animal feeds and for food-producing animals in the United States.
The drug is only allowed for the people with severe infections, and that too when other drugs and medicines are not effective. The antibiotic available in the honey can lead to a serious illness and even a death to the consumer.
"People who are sensitive to chloramphenicol can develop a type of bone marrow depression called aplastic anemia, which can be fatal”, said the Food and Drug Administration.
The Associated Press tried to contact the purchaser and importer of the honey, but none was available.