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August 25, 2020

As storms Marco and Laura approach the Southeast and Gulf Coasts of the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine reminds those who may be affected by storm waters about resources available for animal food producers who may be harvesting, mixing, storing or distributing grains and other foods for animals.

The FDA reminds harvesters that crops harvested from flooded fields are often unacceptable because of contamination. Flood waters, which are different from pooled rain water, may contain sewage, pathogenic organisms, pesticides, chemical wastes, or other toxic substances. Mold growth is another serious concern for flood impacted crops intended for use in animal food. Some molds produce mycotoxins, which are toxic to certain animals and people.

For more information, see Crops Harvested from Flooded Fields Intended for Animal Food: Questions and Answers.

Sometimes, crops that have been harvested and then subsequently deemed unsuitable for human use can be salvaged for animal food. The FDA will work with producers to consider requests to recondition an adulterated crop into animal food on a case-by-case basis. FDA’s compliance guide (CPG 675.200) provides a step-by-step process for reconditioning requests. Those requests should be directed to the following individuals in the relevant FDA field office. 

Although Marco has now been downgraded from a tropical storm, the precise path and intensity of Laura (currently a tropical storm) is not yet known. It appears that states in FDA’s New Orleans District (which includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee) and Dallas District (which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas) may be initially affected. This notice will be updated if states in other districts are also affected.

For contamination events occurring in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi or Tennessee: 

• Steven Barber, 513-679-2700, ext. 2116
• Toniette Williams, 513-679-2700, ext. 2160
• Lindsay Bertling, 615-366-7815

For contamination events occurring in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas: 

• Edmundo Garcia, 214-253-5201
• Karen Daugherty, 214-253-5228
• Jane Broussard, 214-253-4925

Additionally, your state’s Department of Agriculture may have state-specific requirements regarding any attempt to clean, process, test, and sell/use crops in animal food. FDA will also continue working with USDA, state partners, and associations on broader questions that may arise about crops for animal food.

For more information:

• Resources for Human Food Producers in Areas Affected by Storms Laura and Marco
• General Information on Evaluating the Safety of Food and Animal Food Crops Exposed to Flood Waters
• CPG Sec. 683.100 Action Levels for Aflatoxins in Animal Feeds
• Guidance for Industry: Fumonisin Levels in Human Foods and Animal Feeds
• Guidance for Industry and FDA: Advisory Levels for Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Finished Wheat Products for Human Consumption and Grains and Grain By-Products used for Animal Feed 
• CPG Sec. 575.100 Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed - Enforcement Criteria
• CPG 675.200 Diversion of Adulterated Food to Acceptable Animal Feed Use