FDA Sends Warning Letters To Canned Food, Egg, And Ice Cream Processors
By Sam Lewis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to three food-processing facilities including canned food, eggs, and ice cream plants regarding a variety of current good manufacturing practices and other manufacturing violations.
Warning letters are issued by the FDA following identification of regulatory violations. Companies who have received citations are allowed 15 working days to formulate and present a plan for correction via written response.
Nashville-based Veitti Acquisition produces low-acid canned food and was cited for deviations of current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) and received a warning letter for a number of violations including:
- Failure to provide notification of processing changes
- Failure to verify accuracy of temperature measurements upon installation of equipment
- Failure to thaw frozen materials in appropriate manner
- Failure to ensure facility construction prevents drip and condensation contamination
- Failure to ensure frequent decontamination of non-food surfaces
- Failure to store food materials in manner that prevents or minimizes deterioration
- Failure of employees to wear effective hair restraints
Sixdog Investments of Wellington, CO was cited for “significant” violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteriditis (SE) regulations. The warning notification included:
- Failure to document proof that chicks and pullets originated in SE-monitored breeding facility
- Ensure that pullets were raised under SE-monitored conditions
- Violation of its own SE-prevention plan by
- Failure to vacate poultry facility for period of time following disinfection
- Presence of pests, bird nesting, and potential harbor materials in barns
- Failure to ensure transportation or holding of eggs at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below beginning at 36 hours post lay
- Inadequate biosecurity measures
- Failure to ensure that prevention plan includes threshold level for rodent and fly activity in poultry houses
Ice cream produced by Helados La Tapatia in Fresno, CA was the subject of a warning letter due to misbranding and adulteration. Included in the company’s violations:
- Strawberry ice cream label indicated the inclusion of “red food color,” a non-permitted ingredient
- Mango ice cream label indicated “yellow food color” rather than the specific “Yellow No. 5”
- Natural Creamy Fruit Bar All Natural Esquimal product label content and formulation sheets were not consistent
- Natural Creamy Fruit Bar All Natural Cookies ‘n Cream label content and formulation sheets were not consistent
- Label content did not include allergen information and other information
FDA warning letters require written response explaining a company’s plan to correct and prevent recurrence of violations and to bring facility into compliance. If response is not received within the allowed 15 business days, or if the facility fails to follow its stated plan, the FDA has recourse including shutting down facilities or seizure of products.