Is Florfenicol safe for babies and kids?
Context-dependent for kids(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Florfenicol, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
What is florfenicol?
The IUPAC name is 2,2-dichloro-N-[(1R,2S)-3-fluoro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)propan-2-yl]acetamide.
Also known as: Nuflor, (-)-Florfenicol, Sch-25298, Sch 25298.
- IUPAC name
- 2,2-dichloro-N-[(1R,2S)-3-fluoro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)propan-2-yl]acetamide
- CAS number
- 73231-34-2
- Molecular formula
- C12H14Cl2FNO4S
- Molecular weight
- 358.21 g/mol
- SMILES
- O=C(C(O)c1ccc(S(=O)(=O)C)cc1)NC(CS)C(F)F
- PubChem CID
- 114811
Risk for babies
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Florfenicol, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Florfenicol, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.
No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Florfenicol. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA | 1996 | Approved veterinary drug (NADA 141-063) | |
| EU | 2010 | Annex I — MRL established (Reg 37/2010) | |
| Codex Alimentarius | 2018 | MRLs set for cattle/pig/chicken/fish |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where kids encounter florfenicol
- Veterinary Medicine
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Florfenicol:
-
Oxytetracycline (older, well-characterized)
Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
-
Tulathromycin (respiratory)
Trade-offs: Non-halogenated; no toxic combustion gases (HCl, dioxins); requires higher loading (40-65% by weight vs 5-15% for halogenated FRs); affects material properties (density, flexibility, processability); cost-effective at scale.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Why do regulators disagree about florfenicol?
Florfenicol has been classified by 3 agencies including FDA, EU, Codex Alimentarius, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Florfenicol in the baby app
Look up products containing florfenicol, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (1)
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Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →