The Avoidance of Potential Drug Residues and Antimicrobial Resistance

A residue is any substance which is left behind in the tissues of an animal which has been treated with that substance. Drug residues are most commonly the result of the failure of the elimination of the drug from the edible portions of the animal because insufficient time was allowed between the last treatment and slaughter of the animal. Residues found in beef above tolerable levels can occur because of the permissive and uninformed use of drugs by small segments of the animal industry; failure to adhere to the withdrawal regulations; the extra-label use of drugs for which there may be no stated withdrawal period; and, the lack of original owner identification for animals offered for slaughter.