KLA: Residue Testing Program Under Scrutiny

NCBA is in the process of thoroughly analyzing a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) on the effectiveness of the cattle residue testing program administered by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The OIG audit has been the source of numerous media reports this week, including stories in USA Today and on network radio and television.

The FSIS testing program, conducted in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is used to regulate residues of veterinary medicine, pesticides and environmental contaminants in meat, poultry and eggs. According to the OIG report, the audit was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of the national residue program and to assess how well FSIS, FDA and EPA are coordinating to accomplish the program’s objectives.

While NCBA continues to digest this complex audit, spokespersons are reassuring consumers that ranchers and feeders are committed to providing safe beef. Industry messages express full support for the government’s role in ensuring beef safety and any potential improvement in the testing process.

For more information visit www.kla.org.

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