During fiscal year 2020 (FY20, Oct. 1, 2019-Sept, 30, 2020), about 3.9 million milk samples were tested for animal drug residues. Of those, just 536 tested positive, according to FDA’s National Milk Drug Residue Database Fiscal Year 2020 report.
The Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which governs the state regulatory agencies in the implementation and enforcement of their Grade A milk safety program, require that all bulk milk tankers be sampled and analyzed for animal drug residues before the milk is processed. Any bulk milk tanker found positive is rejected for human consumption.
The number of samples testing positive for drug residues in FY20 was down from the year before, and the lowest number of milk samples that tested positive for a drug residue in the 25 years data is available. By fiscal year, the number of milk samples testing positive for drug residues was:
- 2020 – 536
- 2019 – 556
- 2018 – 584
- 2017 – 605
- 2016 – 618
- 2015 – 579
- 2014 – 703
- 2013 – 731
- 2012 – 828
State and local agencies conduct drug residue tests at four “locations”:
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Bulk milk pickup tankers (bulk raw milk from a dairy farm): Samples are taken on receipt of every tanker load at a milk receiving facility. Of more than 3.47 million samples, 334 (0.01%, or 10 thousandths of 1%) tested positive, resulting in the disposal of 15.37 million pounds of milk.
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Producer (raw milk obtained from the bulk tank or silo from a dairy farm): Of 314,679 total samples, 202 (0.064%) tested positive, resulting in the disposal of 497,000 pounds of milk.
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Other (milk from milk plant tank or silos, milk transport tankers, etc.): Of 55,515 total samples, none tested positive.
- Samples of pasteurized fluid milk and milk products: Finished dairy products in bulk or package form after pasteurization, including milk, cream, condensed and dry milk and milk products, and condensed and dry whey and whey products were tested. Of 26,614 total samples, none tested positive for animal drug residues.
Overall, 15.87 million pounds of milk were found positive for a drug residue and disposed of in FY20, up from FY19’s total of 15.33 million pounds.
Testing for specific drugs
In addition to testing for presence of any drug residues, specific tests seek to identify residues from five different groups or individual drugs, using 19 different testing methods. Since some samples are tested for more than one drug residue, more than 4.05 million total tests were conducted, with 539 testing positive.
Of samples testing positive, 534 samples were positive for beta lactams and five were positive for sulfonamides; none were positive for tetracyclines.
Of the 534 samples positive for beta lactams, 332 were drawn from bulk milk pickup tankers; 202 were in samples drawn from bulk tanks or silos from a dairy farms.
Mandatory drug residue reporting is required by state regulatory agencies under the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS). NCIMS is a voluntary organization directed and controlled by member states to promote the availability of a high quality milk supply.
The FDA and the NCIMS, through their collaborative efforts, have developed a cooperative, federal-state program (the Grade A Interstate Milk Shippers Program) to ensure the sanitary quality of Grade A milk and milk products shipped in interstate commerce.
The National Milk Drug Residue Data Base (NMDRD) is a voluntary industry reporting program, under contract to the FDA. Data reported to the NMDRD are for educational and analytical purposes, and are not intended or suitable for regulatory action or follow-up.
The system includes all milk, Grade A and non-Grade A, commonly known as manufacturing grade. Grade A milk represents approximately 99% of the milk supply in the U.S. and is regulated through the NCIMS by the state regulatory agencies. 
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Dave Natzke
- Editor
- Progressive Dairy
- Email Dave Natzke
