The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued warning letters to a diverse group of food manufacturers for reported violations of and diversions from the existing food safety rules. As many as seven food manufacturers have received such letters from the federal regulatory body.
FDA inspected the facilities of Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC, which manufactures low-acid canned foods at a Frederick, MD, facility between Aug. 31 and Sept. 22 last year. During the inspection, the FDA found "significant deviations" from the Low Acid Canned Food (LACF) regulations as well as the existing Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
In the warning letter, the FDA stated that Saputo products, non-dairy creamer in cups, were being made ignoring several regulations, including errors in sterilizing machines.
Another company that received the FDA warning letter is the seafood processing facility in Hayward, CA, owned by MGH Gourmet Inc. During the inspection of this facility "serious violations" of seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), regulations were detected. According to the FDA warning letter, the crab cakes smoked salmon, lobster, shrimp, salmon, smoked trout and ahi tuna canapés products of MGH are all considered to be adulterated as the company did not follow the seafood HACCP regulations. It was apparent that the fish and fishery products are all prepared, packed or held under unsanitary conditions, Food Safety News reported.
Even Lupe Gourmet Inc. in Hunts Point, NY, received a similar warning letter from the FDA, which said that the manufacturer's ready-to-eat, refrigerated, vacuum-packaged whole mullet roe , as well as its ready to eat refrigerated, anchovy fillets marinated in oil, are both contaminated as they were made without following seafood HACCPs. FDA officials inspected the Lupe Gourmet Inc facility between Dec. 16 and 23, 2015.
Moreover, during an inspection in November 2015, FDA authorities found Casey's Bakery Inc. in Sioux Center, IA, did not comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulation. The FDA issued a warning letter stating Casey's failed to respond to its inspection observations.
Other manufacturers that also received warning letters from the FDA include Pressed Juicery in Fresno, CA, Holmes Made Salsa, an acidified foods manufacturer in Wichita, KS, and Burnham Orchards Inc., an apple cider processing facility, in Berlin Heights, OH.
