IDFA has learned that the Food and Drug Administration’s drug residue sampling survey, which began last January, is nearing completion. Sample collection was completed in November, and analysis of the findings and drafting of the report are currently underway. 

The FDA’s objective is to determine if those dairy farms with previous drug residue violations in market-bound meat are producing milk that also contains drug residues. The survey involves the collection of 1,800 universal milk samples at central milk testing laboratories: 900 milk samples from dairy producers with a cull dairy cow tissue residue violation, and another 900 random milk samples. 

"IDFA will continue to work with FDA and our dairy industry partners to ensure that milk and dairy products are safe,” said Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president of regulatory affairs and general counsel. “The industry is committed to meeting strict quality control procedures and FDA regulations.”

IDFA is working with industry partners, including Dairy Management Inc. and the National Milk Producers Federation, to prepare for the release of the findings, which are expected in February 2013.

For more information, contact Hough at chough@idfa.org