Chemical Contamination of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

FSIS conducts tests for chemicals—including antibiotics, sulfonamides, and various other drugs, pesticides and environmental chemicals—in meat, poultry and egg products destined for human consumption. FSIS also conducts studies to determine presence of contaminants such as dioxin.

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Residue Testing; National Residue Program
Screening Tests
Dioxins
Melamine

RESIDUE TESTING

U.S. National Residue Program for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

2012 Residue Sampling Plans ("Blue Book")
This document presents a comprehensive explanation of the process used to plan the U.S. National Residue Program for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products for the year 2012. Program plans for past years (1998-2011) are also available.

2011 Residue Sample Results ("Red Book") (PDF Only; 1.30mb; 119 pp.)
The 2011 Red Book provides the residue sampling results from testing for chemical compounds in food animals produced domestically or imported into the United States.

2010 Red Book; Links to prior years (1996-2008)

Residue Repeat Violator Lists
These lists, provided in PDF and Excel spreadsheet format, contain information to help establishments, Livestock Markets as well as inspection program personnel identify residue history of produces.

User Guide (PDF Only)
- Residue Repeat Violator List for Use by FSIS Inspection Program Personnel | xls (May 16, 2013)
  Part I - This part is intended to assist Inspection Program Personnel identify producers with more than one residue violation in the last 12 months either in the same establishment or different establishments.

User Guide (PDF Only)
- Residue Repeat Violator List for Use by Livestock Markets and Establishments | xls (May 16, 2013)
  Part II - This part is intended to assist establishments and Livestock Markets to identify producers with more than one residue violation in the last 12 months either in the same establishment or different establishments. Part II contains only the names of the producers listed by states.

Residue Related Notices & Directives
View a consolidated listing of Federal Register and FSIS Notices related to residue testing policy.

askFSIS about Residue

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SCREENING TESTS

Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) (PDF Only)
Guidance document used as an aid in determining the disposition of single animals. FAST can be applied any time the veterinarian suspects the presence of an antimicrobial residue.

DIOXINS

FSIS Dioxin Related Activities
Page includes links to dioxin resources and historical information. FSIS conducts periodic surveys to gather information on dioxins, furans, and dioxin-like PCBs in U.S. meat and poultry products as part of a continuing effort to understand and characterize potential contaminants in the food supply.

Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds In the U.S. Domestic Meat and Poultry Supply (Oct 8, 2009; PDF Only)

MELAMINE

FSIS Testing Results for Melamine in Retail Meat and Poultry (May 2009; PDF Only)
FSIS collected retail samples of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products to test for the presence of melamine. This action was prompted by public health concerns regarding melamine contamination of imported milk-derived food ingredients in FDA-regulated products. None of the products tested by FSIS posed a public health concern.

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Last Modified: May 16, 2013


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