FDA WARNING_LETTER - Piedmont Dairy - April 26, 2007

An FDA investigation of Piedmont Dairy, conducted April 16-26, 2007, with additional evidence obtained September 14, 2007, revealed significant violations. On December 14, 2006, Piedmont Dairy sold a dairy cow for slaughter that was found to have penicillin residues in its tissues exceeding the established tolerance of 0.05 ppm (kidney: 7.03 ppm, liver: 0.37 ppm, muscle: 0.20 ppm). This renders the animal adulterated under sections 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) and 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).

The investigation also found that Piedmont Dairy lacks an adequate system to ensure medicated animals are withheld from slaughter for appropriate withdrawal times, leading to potentially harmful drug residues entering the food supply. Specifically, the firm failed to maintain animal treatment records to assure proper drug use and withdrawal times. This constitutes adulteration under section 402(a)(4) of the Act.

Furthermore, on December 14, 2006, Piedmont Dairy provided a false guaranty stating no livestock delivered had illegal drug residues, which is a prohibited act under section 301(h) of the Act. A previous USDA/FSIS notification on August 23, 2006, also cited