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Update of FDA Drug Residue Testing in Milk

Published: July 2, 2013
By: Nicole Neeser, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Dairy, Meat, Poultry, Egg and Compliance Program Manager)
Traditionally, drug residue testing on milk has been limited to the beta lactam testing requirements explicitly stated in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (2011 PMO, Appendix N, p. 342):
"Industry shall screen all bulk milk pickup tankers, regardless of final use, for Beta lactam drug residues."
Over the past twenty years, testing requirements have remained fairly limited in scope, despite the availability and common use of a wider variety of veterinary drugs on dairy farms. Increased concerns with antibiotic use and residues, especially those concerns stemming from meat residues in dairy cull cows, are causing many in regulatory agencies and industry to reexamine the scope of testing.
Early in 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a milk testing project that was intended to collect information about milk residues on farms that had previously been found to have tissue residue violations. The objective was to collect samples of milk from these farms and test the milk for a wider variety of drugs to determine if there was a residue risk in the milk as well as the tissue. Industry and some State regulatory agencies were extremely concerned with the logistics involved in performing this testing project as well as the potential consequences if a sample was deemed to be positive several days after it was taken.
As a result of these concerns, FDA delayed implementation and reassessed their project by holding a series of listening sessions to gather input on how industry, States and academia felt this question could be addressed with as little disruption to the industry's daily routines as possible. One such session was held in Minnesota. After gathering information, the FDA decided to conduct a double blinded, controlled study for this project. This study was to be initiated in late 2011. Samples would be collected from laboratories after bulk tankers had already been screened for the routine required drugs. Samples would be collected from tissue violator farms as well as non-violators in order to provide a comparison. This project did begin in early 2012 with a number of samples already collected. Study results are expected to be available in October 2012 and are expected to be released as a part of a risk assessment.
In response to the concerns about a lack of testing for certain types of drugs, the industry has reacted and begun doing some tanker testing on their own. Some of this testing is also being conducted in response to the requirements of importing countries for a wider variety of testing at a lower level than the US currently uses as a safe tolerance level. In Minnesota, as well as other States, dairy producers found with residues of any type of veterinary drug, regardless of whether it is PMO required testing, will be considered to have a violation on their record. The response to that positive is the same whether it is conducted because of the PMO requirements or for another reason as milk with veterinary drugs in it above safe tolerance levels is considered adulterated. Dairy veterinarians should be aware that increased levels of testing, much of it random, is occurring – as always, it is important to work with your clients to use veterinary drugs properly and adhere to the proper milk and meat withholding times.
This paper was presented at the Minnesota Dairy Health Conference, 2012. Engormix thanks the Organizing Committee and the author for this contribution. 
Related topics:
Authors:
Nicole Neeser
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
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Syed Hassan Raza
10 de febrero de 2014
Dear Nadeem contact me on shraza3758@gmail.com
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Syed Hassan Raza
10 de febrero de 2014
Dear Nadem To improve the milk quality you should be clear that what you mean by it. Hygienic or better composition. All depend on farm and feeding management. It is quite simple but needs professional approach. You can contact me in this regard.
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Syed Hassan Raza
16 de diciembre de 2013
All we have concerned about the milk quality. Once a leading company tried to export milk but whole UHT batch was rejected. It means whether milk is packed or open, standards are always poor. We should consider the main issues for this. The high input prices making dairy farming unprofitable, monoply of marketing and milk processing companies, high cost of advertisement, high cost of processing and overhead charges, poor production standards are the main culprits. A through value chain study is essential to put the industry on right track. The government monitoring policies are too weak and inefficient.
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Dr. Ahmad Ali
Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal
Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal
3 de julio de 2013

While responding to this topic, I am reflecting back and forward about the milk testing standards in Pakistan. Indeed the milk we are being provided either in UHT packing, polythene or through traditional milk men, literally it could be called anything but milk. In the beggining it was assumed that the extent of malpractising in milk preservation and mixing the traditional milk men rank highest, however, according to some unconfirmed reports the milk quality of large UHT milk companies is even worse and God knows what type of chemicals and hazardous chemicals are churned with milk to increase its quantity and thick. Due to traditional trend of milk shortages in summer months the intensity of malpractising of milk increase manifold. We it is a matter of concern for the concerned quarters and food standard agencies. Is there anyone listening.........????

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Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed
7 de febrero de 2014
A report on chemical adulterants in milk http://www.pjps.pk/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/27/1/Paper-27.pdf
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Dr. Zahi
6 de febrero de 2014
Only the Drugs residue is not the problems the animal suffering from different diseases for that drugs are used so first the disease affect the quality itself then drugs my upper comment look irrelevant but that acutely relevant with ultimate use of drugs and their affect.
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Dr. Zahi
6 de febrero de 2014
As concern Milk standard than what about FMD occurring in this season FMDV levels in milk Most research on the occurrence of FMDV in milk, and nearly all research concerning the effects of pasteurization or pH changes, has been done in cattle. FMDV can replicate in the squamous epithelial tissues of the mammary gland, resulting in high viral titers in milk.7;9 In some experimentally infected cattle, the highest viral titers found in milk were comparable to levels detected in the pharynx.10 FMDV may be shed in milk before the onset of clinical signs. During the 1967-1968 epizootic in England, this virus was detected in some milk bulk tanks and tankers at least 33 hours before clinical signs were reported in the affected herds. In some experimentally infected cows, it was found in milk 1-4 days before vesicles developed. There is relatively little published information on the amount of FMDV typically shed in milk during outbreaks. The existence of seven FMDV serotypes (O, A, C, Asia-1, SAT-1, SAT-2 and SAT-3) and a large number of strains may complicate this assessment, as the amount of virus might vary between serotypes and strains. In a few field samples collected from infected cows, the virus titer in milk varied from trace amounts to 106.6 TCID50/ml.10;11;35 One review article stated that peak virus shedding in cow’s milk is 106.7 TCID50 /ml milk, without giving further details.36 Alexandersen (2005) noted that, due to the limited number of field samples, it is possible that some cows shed greater amounts of FMDV than have been reported. Commercial processing of dairy products includes clarification to remove debris, heating, and various other procedures such as homogenization, evaporation, pH changes, drying or filtration. Although the vast majority of research has been on the effects of heat, and to a lesser extent pH, other processes could also affect the amount of residual FMDV in contaminated milk products.
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Hafiz Wasi Muhammad Khan
5 de febrero de 2014
As a matter of fact milk quality issue has become complicated..all stake holders have left thinking about quality and standards and it has become mind set even for the consumers to live like that. to me following factors have contributed in this issue 1. huge gap between supply and demand 2. huge gap between supply n demand in summer 3. seasonal milk consuming pattern 4. lack of any monitoring and absence of writ of law in this field 5. purchasing power of the consumers 6. no incentive to farmers for producing high quality milk 7. High cost of production ( Increase in animal price, labour cost and input cost while price of milk did not reciprocate accordingly Therefore a full fledged compign and plan is required to address this complicated issue in which both farmers, supply chain and govt should b included clearly thinking it as a National duty and in the interest of our future generation
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Muhammad Nadeem
4 de febrero de 2014
I am Muhammad nadeem Just new & Non technicale person planning to start dairy business with 50 heads australian cow . I also start my own corn crop in 25 acer & making my own healthy salage for my cows . I just want to know How to improve the milk quality in best with low bacteria & get the good price from Nestle .
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Shahbaz Javaid
11 de diciembre de 2013
Still we do not have standars of milk Quality in Pakistan. Malpracticing in milk sale is becoming a great concern and it is increasing day by day not only in fresh milk but in tetra packs, too. We are playing with the health of our community. Though some groups of farmers want to produce and sale quality milk with low health hazards however, it will definately cost more. In current circumstances consumers do not want to pay more. There is need to study and change the consumer behaviour and mind set first to get success.
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