General Information
FARAD and Food Quality
Consumers rightly expect that the products they purchase are of high quality.
This is especially true for foods. Just as there are standards for quality
in the manufacture of automobiles, there are standards of quality for
animal-derived foods (meat, milk and eggs). The two most visible
food safety issues related to animal-derived
foods are microbial and chemical contaminants. Safety is as important
for foods as it is for automobiles,
and thus strict safety standards are set for foods. Unlike
automobiles which are manufactured in a limited number
of factories, food animal production is widely distributed in thousands of locations, and is more difficult to monitor.
Thus, voluntary producer quality assurance programs are very important.
Because food safety is a visible and controversial consumer issue, and safety concerns affect the marketing
of animal-derived foods, responsible producers are expanding and publicizing their quality assurance programs.
In addition, since 1982, the USDA Extension Service has been involved in an educational/service project to
further enhance the safety of animal-derived foods. The Residue Avoidance Program (RAP), which was initially
founded by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), targeted the area of chemical residues.
The aim of the RAP was to reduce the rate of animal residue violations through education, rather than enforcement.
As part of the RAP, the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) program was developed by
pharmacologists and toxicologists at the university of California, Davis, University of Florida, North Carolina State
University and the University of Illinois.
What is FARAD
Livestock producers, veterinarians and feed producers recognize residue avoidance as the key to
consumer confidence, and are enhancing and formalizing programs which will permeate every facet
of the production system. The development of effective residue avoidance and quality assurance
programs requires access to a vast array of information. The Food Animal Residue Avoidance
Databank (FARAD) offers the means to provide this information.
FARAD is a computer-based decision support system designed to provide livestock producers, Extension
specialists, and veterinarians with practical information on how to avoid drug, pesticide and environmental
contaminant residue problems. The drugs and pesticides used in modern animal agriculture improve animal
health and thereby promote more efficient and humane production.
Wherever drugs are used to treat sick animals or prevent disease, there is a potential that residues may be
incurred. The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), which must approve all drugs meant to be marketed
for use in animals, establishes tolerances for drug residues (similar to speed limits) to insure food safety.
The USFDA also establishes “withdrawal times” or “withholding periods” which are times after drug treatment
when milk and eggs are not to be used for food, and during which animals are not to be slaughtered. This
allows time to the animals to eliminate the drug residues.
FARAD is a repository of comprehensive residue avoidance information. FARAD is also sanctioned to provide
these estimates to the United States Pharmacopeia-Drug Information (USP-DI)
Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee. Since 1982 FARAD has been working
with producers, Extension Specialists and Agents, and veterinarians to help avoid and mitigate residue problems.
As a cooperative multi-state program, FARAD is available nationwide to offer advice about residue avoidance.
What is in FARAD
FARAD personnel at the University of California, Davis and the University of Florida comb through numerous
sources of residue avoidance information and extract information that will be of greatest use. These data are
reviewed by residue experts to insure accuracy and consistency, and further analysis is done by FARAD
personnel at North Carolina State University to explore novel ways in which the data may be used to prevent
residue problems. FARAD maintains an up-to-date computerized compilation of :
- Current label information including withdrawal times on all drugs approved for use in food animals in the
United States and on hundreds of products used in Canada, Europe and Australia.
- Official tolerances for drugs and pesticides in tissues, eggs and milk.
- Descriptions and sensitivities of rapid screening tests for detecting chemical residues in tissues, eggs and milk.
- Data on the fate of chemicals in food animals.
Where to call FARAD
FARAD expert-mediated assistance is available from two Regional Access Centers
that can be accessed by this single toll-free telephone number:
1-888-USFARAD
(1-888-873-2723)
When to call FARAD
Anyone who has a question about how to prevent residues in animal-derived foods is
encouraged to call FARAD for assistance. Food animal veterinarians and Extension specialists
are currently the major users of FARAD information. The FARAD Regional Access Centers operate
during normal business hours. Most questions can be answered immediately; however, complex response
may require a couple of days.
FARAD VetGRAM
VetGRAM is a searchable, decision-support database that allows the user great flexibility in accessing label
food animal drug information. To ensure that you always have access to the latest information, VetGram is
available on the internet only (we no longer send out CD-ROM versions).
When accessing VetGram online, please remember that you need to register with us first. This can be
done through the 'Member Service' link on the left-hand side of the homepage.
FARAD Pharmacokinetic Handbooks
- Riviere JE, Craigmill AL, Sundlof SF: Handbook of Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Residues of Veterinary Antimicrobials. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc., 1991, [ISBN 0 8493 3211 7]; 532 pgs.
- Craigmill AL, Sundlof SF, Riviere JE: Handbook of Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Residues of Veterinary Therapeutic Drugs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc., 1994, [ISBN-0-8493-3212-5]; 665 pgs.
- Sundlof SF, Riviere JE, Craigmill AL: Handbook of Comparative Veterinary Pharmacokinetics and Residues of Pesticides and Environmental Contaminants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc., 1995 [ISBN-0-8493-3213-3] 580 pgs.
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