The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is taking the first step towards rescinding the use of carbadox to treat swine. The agency conducted a risk assessment saying the drug may leave trace amount of a carcinogenic residue in the meat. NPPC Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom says carbadox is widely used by pork producers as a treatment for diarrhea or dysentery in young pigs.
She says there may be some alternative antibiotics pork producers could use if carbadox use is rescinded.
Wagstrom says until FDA issues a final rule on carbadox, pork producers may continue using this animal health product to treat their young pigs.
Phibro Animal Health Corporation, the maker of carbadox, says it will request a hearing to challenge FDA’s action. This animal health product has been used by U.S. pork producers for nearly four decades.
