Hoover Family Farm – FDA Warning Letter, Jun 19, 2014

On June 16-19, 2014, the FDA inspected Hoover Family Farm in Scottsville, KY, and found violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The farm offered for sale an adulterated animal for slaughter. Specifically, on April 1, 2014, a calf sold for slaughter was found to have 0.072 ppm of penicillin in its kidney tissue, exceeding the FDA tolerance of 0.05 ppm (21 CFR 556.510(a)). This constitutes adulteration under section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the FD&C Act.

The FDA requires prompt corrective action to prevent recurrence, warning of potential regulatory actions like seizure or injunction. Hoover Family Farm must respond in writing within fifteen working days, detailing steps taken or planned, including documentation. The FDA acknowledged a prior response from the farm outlining plans to inquire about animal health/drug use, obtain stockyard bills, and complete drug forms, but found it insufficient due to lack of implementation records. The farm must provide documentation substantiating these corrective actions, including records of medication status inquiries and stockyard records.