John & Nicole Santos Dairy – FDA Warning Letter, Jun 16, 2026

The FDA issued a Warning Letter to John & Nicole Santos Dairy following an inspection conducted from May 19 to June 16, 2026, at their Hilmar, California facility. The inspection identified significant violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding the safety of food products and the proper administration of animal medications. Specifically, the dairy offered cows for slaughter that contained ampicillin residues exceeding the legal safety limit, rendering the meat adulterated and unsafe for human consumption. The FDA also noted that the facility operated under inadequate conditions by failing to maintain accurate treatment records, which frequently lacked essential details such as dosages, withdrawal times, and the identity of the person administering the drugs. Furthermore, the dairy engaged in prohibited extra-label drug use, including ignoring mandatory withdrawal periods before selling animals for food and administering cephalosporin drugs via unapproved routes. To resolve these issues, the dairy must provide a written response to the FDA within 15 working days. This response must detail the specific corrective actions taken and the internal procedures implemented to prevent future violations. Failure to comply may result in regulatory or legal enforcement.