FDA WARNING_LETTER - Cedar Ridge Farms - February 01, 2013

On April 2, 2013, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Cedar Ridge Farms following a January 28, 31, and February 1, 2013, investigation. The FDA found that a dairy cow sold for slaughter on November 6, 2012, was adulterated. USDA/FSIS analysis of tissue samples from the animal, slaughtered on November 7, 2012, revealed 19.86 ppm of oxytetracycline in kidney tissue (tolerance 12 ppm), 1.45 ppm of sulfadimethoxine in liver tissue, and 1.089 ppm in muscle tissue (tolerance 0.10 ppm). These levels exceed FDA tolerances, rendering the food adulterated under section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the FD&C Act.

The investigation also found that Cedar Ridge Farms held animals under insanitary conditions, failing to maintain complete treatment records, which could lead to medicated animals with harmful drug residues entering the food supply, violating section 402(a)(4) of the FD&C Act. Furthermore, the new animal drugs Di-Methox (sulfadimethoxine) and Agrimycin 200 (oxytetracycline) were adulterated due to extralabel use not in compliance with approved labeling or 21 C.F.R. Part 53