REGULATORY ACTIVITIES - May/June 1998

FDA Veterinarian Newsletter May/June 1998 Volume XIII, No III

The following firms/individuals received warning letters for offering animals for slaughter that contained illegal drug residues:

• Joseph Pimentel, Pimentel & Sons Dairy, Tracy, CA
• Alvin L. Souza, Alvin Souza Dairy, Tulare, CA

These violations involved illegal residues of sulfadimethoxine in a cow and gentamicin in a cow.

John L. Draxler, JCJ Dairy, Hanford, CA, received a warning letter for offering a dairy cow for slaughter that contained illegal drug residues of gentamicin and penicillin and for using Tetracycline Hydrochloride Soluble Powder in a way that is not in conformance with its approved labeling.

A warning letter was sent to Frank J. Garcia, Jr., Frank R. Garcia & Sons Dairy, Tulare, CA, for offering a dairy cow for slaughter that contained illegal drug residues of gentamicin. The letter also stated that this firm has established a history of offering animals for sale for human use which have been found to be adulterated with drug residues.

Jose A. Matos and Jovina M. Matos, Merced, CA, received a warning letter for offering a cow for slaughter that contained illegal drug residues of sulfadimethoxine and for using oxytetracycline and tetracycline hydrochloride soluble powder in ways that are not in conformance with their approved labeling.

A warning letter was sent to Kars Tamminga, President, Fri-Tex Dairy, Inc., Waxahachie, TX, for offering dairy cows for slaughter with obvious symptoms of poisoning. The letter also said that FDA investigators found that the firm held animals under conditions which are so inadequate that diseased or sick animals bearing potentially harmful pesticide and drug residues are likely to enter the food supply. In addition, the letter stated that this firm has previously offered for slaughter dairy cattle with violative drug residues.