A federal judge at the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho has entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Idaho-based T&T Cattle and T&T Cattle Pearl, as well as against owner Gregory Troost and manager Mark A. Mourton, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to a statement from the federal agency, the FDA took action over violations of manufacturing good practices, including administering animal drugs for purposes that have not been approved by the regulator.
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FDA officials recorded a number of violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act during inspections in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2012. Inspectors found that the company did not keep adequate medication records which could prevent higher levels of drug residues in animals for slaughter. In addition, T&T Cattle was found to have been giving animals medications in ways that did not comply with FDA regulations.
During one of the inspections, FDA officials noticed that the company had offered for slaughter seven dairy cows with illegally high levels of drug residues. Samples taken from these cows revealed elevated levels of penicillin and sulfadimethoxine. The FDA explained that consuming meat containing increased amounts of antibiotics and other drugs could lead to negative effects among the public even if these drugs are detected at very low levels. Records show no illnesses reported in relation to meat products manufactured by T&T Cattle, the FDA statement said.
