Select Veal Feeds Inc. of Franconia, Pa. and its owner, Wayne A. Marcho, this week were charged in U.S. District Court for using unlabeled drugs in the formula delivered to Marcho's veal calf farms, and of taking steps to cover up the drugs' use in a federal investigation.
Between 1998 and May 2005, according to court records, Select Veal allegedly added formaldehyde and potassium permanganate to formula delivered by Select Veal to some 200 farmers raising veal calves under contract to Marcho Farms. Marcho Farms, also owned by Marcho, slaughtered the calves and delivered veal products to restaurants and retailers for consumption.
The drugs are used in livestock to treat disease or to achieve desired characteristics in the finished product. However, the Federal Drug Administration requires that any product including these substances be properly labeled. The U.S. Attorney for Pennsylvania contends the formula was not properly labeled and that the drugs' use was not properly supervised by veterinary staff.
Furthermore, the court records indicate that during an investigation of the drugs' use, begun in January 2004, representatives of the company introduce "false and misleading" statements in affidavits in order to obstruct the investigation.
According to a report in The Times-Herald of Norristown, Pa., Marcho is expected to plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of misbranding under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Select Veal Feeds is expected to plead guilty to that charge, and also a felony count of obstructing an agency.
If the judge does accept a plea agreement that has been introduced, then Select Veal Feeds will have to pay $650,000 to resolve the indictment. Of that, $550,000 will be considered a criminal fine and the rest will be applied as restitution, the paper said. |
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