The FDA has released two inspection reports on Jeni’s Ice Cream facility in Missouri. A 2008 report found problems, as did a 2015 report. The Missouri Department of Agriculture found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in Jeni’s ice cream in April 2015, and the plant shut down to find the problem.
The 2008 report found that plant managers did not take measures to exclude pests from the processing areas. Rodent pellets were found along the oven wall, in the dry food product storage area, and throughout the storage area. A live rodent on a glue trap was found next to the cleaning supply door.
The plant did not have adequate screening or other protection against pests. There were “numerous holes in the exterior wall of the facility without screening to prevent pest access.” Garage bay doors were left open, unscreened holes were near the exhaust fan, and four holes were in the west concrete wall shared with the adjacent facility.
Employees “were not maintaining adequate personal cleanliness” according to the report. An employee was observed scratching his head with his bare hands and returning to work preparing the ice cream mix without washing his hands. Employees left the production area with gloves on to retrieve boxes of ingredients and returned to work packaging ice cream into pints without washing their hands or replacing gloves.
Plumbing was a source of contamination. The hose attached to the hose bib next to the mixers is not of food grade material.
Storage of toxic materials which are not required to maintain clean conditions, are not necessary for lab testing, and are unnecessary for plant operations are found in the facility. A quart size can of acetone was stored on the bottom of the ingredient storage shelf next to food ingredients. Acetone is a flammable solvent found in nail polish remover.
Employees were observed drinking beverages in areas where food is exposed and equipment is washed. Employees did not wear beard covers and hair restraints. Some employees were wearing ball caps in a way so their hair was protruding from underneath the cap over exposed ice cream. Finally, there was lack of back flow protection from piping systems that discharge waste water and sewage.
