These FDA warning letters for the week of May 30, 2012 list food facilities with food safety violations that are of interest to consumers. These letters are sent after a facility is inspected, to give the owners guidance and time to fix violations.
1. Seco Spice Ltd. of Berino, New Mexico. Inspectors found Salmonella bacteria in this facility, in 21 subsamples. The bacteria was found in the grinding room and milling room, and in other areas. The letter states “this was not the first time FDA investigators collected environmental samples from your facility that were found to be positive for Salmonella anatum.” The inspection also found “dead beetle-like insects too numerous to count” on totes containing green chile flakes.
2. Sushi Boy, Inc. of Gardena, California. This facility had serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation. Specifically, the facility’s plan for raw salmon and raw tuna products did not include control points of thawing, storage, and receiving. The report states that the FDA “has concerns regarding your control of the hazard of parasites in your refrigerated salmon intended for raw consumption.”
3. The Nut Factory, Inc. of Greenacres, Washington. Inspectors found dead rodents in this facility, and large numbers of rodent feces throughout the firm. In addition, food particles and other debris accumulated near the washer and dryer in the Receiving Area and in the oil roasters, kettles, almond slicer, and popcorn maker. Mold was found near a sink, and a “sooty deposit” was on the walls and ceilings of the Roasting Room.
4. Smith Family Frosted Foods, LLC of Tiffin, Ohio. This seafood processing facility had serious violations of the seafood HACCP regulation. The firm did not have plans to control Staphylococcus aureus on frozen breaded raw yellow large perch fillets, or Clostridium botulinum toxin in ready-to-eat seafood salads. Also, employees did not practice good sanitation methods, and the company does not monitor employee health before they prepare foods. Labeling violations were also observed.
