BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont dairy farm and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have reached an agreement that prohibits the farm from selling cattle for human consumption that contain drugs not allowed in the human food chain.
A consent decree signed by the Lawson Farm of Irasburg and the U.S. government prevents the farm, its owners and operators from selling any animals for use as food unless and until they can assure that animals with illegal drug residues do not enter the food supply.
Court documents say that between 2002 and 2012, tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found illegal drug residue from six animal drugs in tissue samples collected from 10 Lawson Farm animals. The records also claim the farm did not maintain adequate treatment records, such as how the drugs were being administered them or who administered them.
As part of the consent decree dated Monday, the farm did not admit or contest the allegations in the government's complaint.
The farm's attorney said Lawson Farm is a family operation that is committed to a safe supply of milk and milk products.
"The Lawson family is firmly committed to a safe supply of milk and milk products in the stream of commerce, and in response to FDA and Department of Justice requests, have just instituted a highly sophisticated software program, with highly skilled and trained employees, to insure compliance with the highest standards of milk quality and the consent order," said a statement from Lawson Farm Attorney Duncan Kilmartin.