Beef containing harmful pesticides, veterinary antibiotics and heavy metals is still being sold to the U.S. public because federal agencies have failed to set limits or adequately test for residues, according to a report by USDA's inspector general.
"The national residue program is not accomplishing its mission of monitoring the food supply for harmful residues," says the IG's audit. The health effects on people who eat such meat are a "growing concern," the audit adds.
The testing program for cattle is run by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, which also tests meat for such pathogens as salmonella and certain dangerous strains of E. coli. But the residue program relies on assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency, which sets tolerance levels for human exposure to pesticides and other pollutants, and the Food and Drug Administration, which does the same for antibiotics and other medicines.
"Together, FSIS, FDA, and EPA have not established thresholds for many dangerous substances (e.g., copper or dioxins), which has resulted in meat with these substances being distributed in commerce," the audit notes.
Additionally, FSIS does not attempt to recall meat, even when its tests have confirmed the excessive presence of veterinary drugs, according to the report.
The report goes on to make 14 recommendations on how to make the national residue program more effective. These include the need to tighten up testing procedures and to identify slaughterhouses with a history of residue violations. Government agencies are urged to do more to coordinate their actions, incentives are needed to encourage slaughterhouses to prevent potentially harmful meat from reaching the public.
In a written response to the report, FSIS said it agreed with all the recommendations and would work with FDA and EPA "to prevent residues or contaminants from entering into commerce."
