1008 Grinstead Mill Road Dairy

Department of Health and Human Services	Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration

March 15, 2010
 

VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS
 

WARNING LETTER 10-89924-08
 

Mr. Kelly Poynter, Sr., Owner
1008 Grinstead Mill Road
Cave City, Kentucky 42127-9601

Dear Mr. Poynter:
 

On October 6, 7, 8, 13, and 14, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation of your dairy operation located at 1008 Grinstead Mill Road, Cave City, Kentucky 42127-9601. This letter notifies you of the violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) that we found during our investigation of your operation. You can find the 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 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 Act, 21 U.S.C. 360b. Further, under section 402(a)(4) of the 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 July 6, 2009, you sold a culled dairy cow, identified with back tag (b)(4) for slaughter as food. On or about July 7, 2009, (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 35.936 parts per million (ppm) of sulfamethazine residue in the muscle tissue and the presence of 32.294 ppm of sulfamethazine residue in the liver tissue. FDA has established a tolerance of 0.1 ppm for residues of sulfamethazine in the uncooked edible tissues of cattle as codified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), 556.670 (21 C.F.R. 556.670). The presence of this drug in edible tissue from this animal in this amount causes the food to be adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the 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 treatment records. Food from animals held under such conditions is adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 342(a)(4).
 

We also found that you adulterated the new animal drug sulfamethazine. Specifically, our investigation revealed that you did not use sulfamethazine as directed by its approved labeling. Use of this drug in this manner is an extra-label use. See 21 C.F.R. 530.3(a). In addition, the extra-label use of sulfamethazine is prohibited in lactating dairy cows under 21 C.F.R. 530.41(a)(9).
 

The extra-label use of approved new animal or human drugs in animals is allowed under the Act only if the extra-label use complies with sections 512(a)(4) and (5) of the 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 sulfamethazine to the culled dairy cow identified with back tag (b)(4) without following the dose and withdrawal period as stated in the approved labeling. Sulfamethazine is prohibited for extra-label use in lactating dairy cows by 21 C.F.R. 530.41(a)(9). Furthermore, your extra-label use of sulfamethazine 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 Act, 21 U.S.C. 360b(a), and adulterated within the meaning of section 501(a)(5) of the 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 Stephen J. Rabe, Compliance Officer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 6751 Steger Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Mr. Rabe at 513-679-2700 ext. 163.
 

Sincerely,
/S/

Karen Gale Sego
Acting District Director
Cincinnati District
 

Cc: Dr. William Thorn
University of Kentucky
Division of Regulatory Service
103 Regulatory Service Building
Lexington, KY 40546-0275

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