Double M Jerseys 8/1/11

Department of Health and Human Services	Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration
	San Francisco District Pacific Region 1431 Harbor Bay Parkway Alameda, CA 94502-7070   Telephone:    510-337-6700 FAX:            510-337-6701

 

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
DELIVERY SIGNATURE REQUESTED

 

Our Reference: 3008937230

            WARNING LETTER

 

August 1, 2011

 

Frank D. Mendonsa, Partner

John E. Mendonsa, Partner

Mailing address:

Double M Jerseys

12750 Avenue 160

Tipton, California 93272

 

Dear Messrs. Mendonsa:

 

On May 11 and 24, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation of your dairy operation located at 11595 Avenue 164, Tipton, California. This letter notifies you of the violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) that we found during our investigation of your operation. You can find the FD&C Act and its associated regulations on the Internet through links on FDA’s web page at www.fda.gov. 

 

We found that you offered for sale an animal for slaughter as food that was adulterated. Under section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(2)(C)(ii), a food is deemed to be adulterated if it bears or contains a new animal drug that is unsafe under section 512 of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360b. Further, under section 402(a)(4) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4), a food is deemed to be adulterated if it has been held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.

 

Specifically, our investigation revealed that on or about February 17, 2011, you consigned a cow, identified with ear tag (b)(4), for slaughter as food through (b)(4) subsequently identified with back tag (b)(4).  On or about February 18, 2011, (b)(4) slaughtered this animal. United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) analysis of tissue samples collected from this animal identified the presence of flunixin at 0.569 parts per million (ppm) in the liver tissue.  A tolerance of 0.125 ppm in the liver has been established for residues of flunixin in the edible tissues of cattle as codified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Section 556.286 (21 C.F.R. 556.286).  The presence of this drug in edible tissue from this animal causes the food to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(2)(C)(ii).

 

Our investigation also found that you hold animals under conditions that are so inadequate that medicated animals bearing potentially harmful drug residues are likely to enter the food supply. For example, you failed to maintain complete treatment records. Food from animals held under such conditions is adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 342(a)(4).

 

We also found that you adulterated the new animal drug (b)(4) (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, (b)(4).  Specifically, our investigation revealed that you did not use (b)(4) (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, (b)(4), as directed by its approved labeling.  Use of this drug in this manner is an extralabel use. See 21 C.F.R. 530.3(a). 

 

The extralabel use of approved animal or human drugs in animals is allowed under the FD&C Act only if the extralabel use complies with sections 512(a)(4) and (5) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360b(a)(4) and (5), and 21 C.F.R. Part 530, including that the use must be by or on the lawful order of a licensed veterinarian within the context of a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship. 

 

Our investigation found that you administered (b)(4) (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, (b)(4), to a dairy cow, identified with ear tag (b)(4), without following the route of administration as stated in the approved labeling.  Your extralabel use of (b)(4) (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, (b)(4), was not under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian in violation of 21 C.F.R. 530.11(a), and your extralabel use of (b)(4) (flunixin meglumine) Injectable Solution, (b)(4), resulted in an illegal drug residue, in violation of 21 C.F.R. 530.11(d).  Because your use of this drug was not in conformance with its approved labeling and did not comply with 21 C.F.R. Part 530, you caused the drug to be unsafe under section 512(a) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360b(a), and adulterated within the meaning of section 501(a)(5) of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. § 351(a)(5). 

 

The above is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations. As a producer of animals offered for use as food, you are responsible for ensuring that your overall operation and the food you distribute is in compliance with the law.

 

You should take prompt action to correct the violations described in this letter and to establish procedures to ensure that these violations do not recur. Failure to do so may result in regulatory action without further notice such as seizure and/or injunction.

 

You should notify this office in writing of the steps you have taken to bring your firm into compliance with the law within fifteen (15) working days of receiving this letter. Your response should include each step that has been taken or will be taken to correct the violations and prevent their recurrence. If corrective action cannot be completed within fifteen (15) working days of receiving this letter, state the reason for the delay and the time frame within which the corrections will be completed. Please include copies of any available documentation demonstrating that corrections have been made.

 

Your written response should be sent to Darlene Almogela, Director, Compliance Branch, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, San Francisco District, at 1431 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Compliance Officer Karen L. Robles at (916) 930-3674 extension 1114 or via e-mail at Karen.Robles@fda.hhs.gov.

 

Sincerely, 

/S/

Barbara J. Cassens
District Director
San Francisco District
 

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