FDA WARNING_LETTER - Landaverde Cattle Ranch - May 11, 2011

On May 10-11, 2011, the FDA inspected N.S. Landaverde Cattle Ranch in Dexter, NM, and found violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A bob veal calf sold for slaughter on January 31, 2010, and slaughtered on February 1, 2010, was found to be adulterated. USDA/FSIS analysis of kidney tissue from this calf revealed 20.73 ppm of an unnamed drug, exceeding the FDA tolerance of 7.2 ppm for residues of this drug in cattle kidney tissue (21 C.F.R. 556.430). This constitutes adulteration under section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(2)(C)(ii)].

Additionally, the investigation found insanitary conditions, specifically a failure to maintain an adequate system to ensure medicated animals were withheld from slaughter for appropriate withdrawal periods, and a failure to maintain and review complete treatment records for medicated animals. These conditions mean food from such animals is adulterated under section 402(a)(4) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4)].

Landaverde Cattle Ranch must take prompt action to correct these violations and establish procedures to prevent