A study by Georgetown University and published in Science magazine showing the presence of antibiotics in cattle destined for a “Raised Without Antibiotics” label is raising hackles among some food watchdogs and veterinarians.
On one hand, there are calls for a massive beef recall based on the results, but on the other hand, there are many holes in the published study results, critics say.
“RECALL THE BEEF”
Those calling for a recall say the antibiotics shouldn’t be there. Period. If the cattle are being sold as raised without antibiotics, no antibiotics should be found.
The Science magazine article said the cattle were tested at one plant that serves Whole Foods, but other news organizations have said Whole Foods executives are distancing themselves from the tested cattle.
Still, Farm Action and the American Grassfed Association say Whole Foods should pull the beef off its shelves.
Others said the presence of antibiotics in cattle sold as antibiotic free means cattle producers are lying to consumers, a move that could cost the entire industry the trust it has manicured for decades.
TEST RESULTS
Farm Action and the American Grassfed Association made the initial request for a recall after the study results were published.
The studies authors said the USDA currently does not mandate empirical testing to validate RWA claims. Labeling beef as RWA is a market-based solution to a public health issue, but it only works if the labels are verified, the study’s authors said.
The study’s authors said they found about 15% of the cattle tested positive for antibiotics, suggesting the RWA label lacks integrity.
Researchers used a rapid immunoassay that screens for 17 antibiotics commonly administered in feed and water, Drovers said. They tested every lot of RWA cattle delivered to a single slaughter plant over a seven-month period – a total of 699 cattle from 312 lots and 33 RWA-certified feedlots.
Drovers related that the results found three feedlots had multiple lots in which all samples tested positive for antibiotics, four had all samples test positive in a single lot, seven had positives in more than one lot and 14 had at least one animal test positive.
QUESTIONS
“There are all sorts of questions that remain in all of this,” an analyst said. All tests were done at one plant – which one? Why were the tests taken? Which antibiotics were found?
How will the cattle industry respond to this to assure consumers they are getting what they pay for, another analyst asked. Most appear to be following the rules, but what will happen to the scofflaws?
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $138.00 to $141.39 per cwt, compared with last week’s range of $138.00 to $141.00. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $217.01 to $220.09 per cwt, versus $217.13 to $221.25.
The USDA choice cutout Tuesday was up $1.36 per cwt at $273.47, while select was up $0.42 at $260.71. The choice/select spread widened to $12.76 from $11.82 with 75 loads of fabricated product and 40 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA reported that basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were steady at $1.45 to $1.55 a bushel over the May futures and for southwest Kansas were unchanged at $0.10 over May, which settled at $7.76 1/4 a bushel, up $0.11 3/4.
No live cattle contracts were tendered for delivery Tuesday.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Monday was $155.81 per cwt up $0.14. This compares with Tuesday’s Apr contract settlement $157.75, up $1.10.