Puerto Rican dairy injunction issued

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- An injunction has been issued against two Puerto Rican dairies because of alleged drug residue found in cows, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico issued the permanent injunction against Juan Manuel Barreto Ginorio, owner of J.M. Dairy Inc. and Las Martas Inc., the FDA said Tuesday.

The court order followed a civil complaint that was based on the reported discovery of five illegal residues in the edible tissue of three dairy cows. The drug residues found by the U.S. Food Safety and Investigation Service included antibiotics and penicillin at levels not permitted by the FDA.

Inspectors determined the dairies used animal drugs in a manner contrary to label directions without a veterinarian's oversight and failed to maintain adequate record-keeping systems.

The court ordered the defendants to implement record-keeping systems to ensure the use of drugs conforms to FDA regulations and that no milk or animals enter into interstate commerce with illegal drug residues.