The magnitude of the sulfa residue problem

Expenditures and losses associated with the so-called sulfa residue problem have totaled about $5 million over the past 6 years. This amount was calculated by recording actual costs when available and by reasonable estimates where actual expenses or losses were not available. It is not conclusive whether the consumers, who are intended to be the benefactors of this program, have received protection commensurate with the expenditures. The losses to producers may be greater if the sulfa problem causes them to discontinue the use of medicated feeds. The problem is the unusually high occurrence of sulfonamide residues in livers of slaughtered swine. In an effort to reduce or eliminate these violative residues, there has been extensive testing of swine livers by the FSQS of the USDA, and inspection of farms from which the pigs were shipped, by the FDA, the Extension Service, and the APHIS. Producers whose pigs are found with violative levels of residue are prohibited from selling more pigs until it has been determined that swine from that farm do not contain violative residues. This restriction can result in serious financial losses to producers.