Todd & Patty Meech Dairy Farm – FDA Warning Letter, May 29, 2014

On May 28-29, 2014, the FDA inspected Todd & Patty Meech Dairy Farm in Sebeka, Minnesota, and identified multiple violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The farm offered for sale a dairy cow for slaughter that was adulterated, as tissue samples revealed sulfadimethoxine residues (0.366 ppm in liver, 0.377 ppm in muscle) exceeding the 0.1 ppm tolerance (21 CFR 556.640), violating FD&C Act section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii). The FDA also found that animals were held under insanitary conditions, increasing the likelihood of medicated animals with harmful drug residues entering the food supply, violating section 402(a)(4). Specific deficiencies included failing to maintain complete treatment records and animal identity records for transport and sale. Additionally, the farm adulterated the new animal drug sulfadimethoxine boluses through extralabel use not under licensed veterinary supervision (21 CFR 530.11(a)), which resulted in illegal drug residues (21 CFR 530.11(d)). This extralabel use was further prohibited in lactating dairy cattle (21 CFR 530.41(a)(9)), rendering the drug unsafe and adulterated under FD&C Act sections 512(a) and 501(a)(5). The FDA requires prompt corrective action, establishment of preventative procedures, and a written response within 15 working days detailing corrections and timelines, warning of potential regulatory actions like seizure or injunction if non-compliance persists.