FDA WARNING_LETTER - Adrian Mortimer - May 04, 2017

On May 2-4, 2017, the FDA inspected Adrian J. Mortimer's beef cattle operation in Stephenville, Texas, finding multiple violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Specifically, on January 25, 2017, a beef steer calf sold for slaughter contained penicillin residues at 1.193 ppm in kidney tissue and 33.164 ppm in liver tissue, exceeding the 0.05 ppm tolerance for kidney. Flunixin was also found at 0.542 ppb in liver tissue, exceeding the 0.125 ppb tolerance. Mortimer admitted to medicating the animal with these drugs. This renders the food adulterated under section 402(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the FD&C Act.

The operation also held animals under insanitary conditions, making it likely that medicated animals with harmful residues could enter the food supply, violating section 402(a)(4). Deficiencies included failure to maintain treatment records, lack of a drug inventory system, no records for animal identity delivered for slaughter, and expired drugs on premises.

Furthermore, Mortimer provided a false guaranty on January 25, 2017, stating animals presented for slaughter did not have illegal drug residues, which is prohibited by section 301(h).

Mortimer's June 5, 201