U.S. Marshals have seized food from Gourmet Provisions, LLC and Royal Cup, Inc. after FDA inspectors found “widespread and active rodent and insect infestation” at those facilities. Warrants were issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Inspectors found the rodents and insects, along with unclean equipment and structural defects at the most recent inspection. Management had not taken steps to exclude insects and rodents from the facility and to protect foods and contact surfaces from contamination. Melinda K. Plaisier, the FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs said in a statement, “these companies have a responsibility for the safety and quality of their products. When firms do not uphold this responsibility, the FDA will take action.”
Some of the seized goods had been under an embargo by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and consumer Services. The two businesses are in the same warehouse in Waynesboro, Virginia. Gourmet Provisions makes ice cream cones and stores other foods. Royal Cup stores coffee service items and also does business as Matt’s Supreme Cones. To date, no illnesses have been associated with the consumption of these products.
