Wilson Livestock – FDA Warning Letter, Mar 11, 2026

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Wilson Livestock following a compliance inspection conducted from January 22 through March 11, 2026, at their Lafayette, Tennessee, operation. The inspection revealed significant violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, primarily involving the sale of animals containing illegal drug residues. Specifically, the FDA found that a heifer sold for slaughter contained desfuroylceftiofur levels of 0.961 ppm, more than double the permitted safety limit of 0.4 ppm. Additionally, the company failed to maintain essential drug treatment records, creating a risk that medicated animals with harmful residues could enter the food supply. The FDA also cited the company for the prohibited use of a cephalosporin drug administered for disease prevention, which contradicts approved safety labeling. These practices classify the livestock as adulterated food and the medication as an unsafe drug under federal law. Wilson Livestock is required to provide a written response within 15 working days detailing the corrective steps taken to address these violations and prevent their recurrence. Failure to implement adequate changes may result in further regulatory or legal action.