In 1944, 3-Nitro (Roxaserone, marketed by Pfizer) became the first arsenic-containing new animal drug product approved by the FDA. It is used primarily in broiler chickens.

Combined with other animal drugs, 3-Nitro has been used by some in the poultry industry to help control coccidiosis, a parasitic disease that affects the intestinal tracts of animals. It has also been used for weight gain, feed efficiency and improved pigmentation.

Published scientific reports have indicated that organic arsenic, a less toxic form of arsenic and the form present in 3-Nitro could transform into inorganic arsenic.

“FDA detected increased levels of inorganic arsenic in the livers of chickens treated with 3-Nitro, raising concerns of a very low, but completely avoidable, exposure to a carcinogen,” said Michael R. Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods.

Read more here:  http://www.grist.org/food-safety/2011-06-08-fda-admits-supermarket-chickens-test-positive-for-arsenic

Thanks to Esquire C for bringing this to the attention of the It’s Interesting community.