FDA Warns Bakery about Insanitary Conditions

A bakery is on notice from the FDA because the firm’s products were prepared, packed, or held under conditions that might cause them to become contaminated with filth, or  not meeting food safety standards.

“The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your bakery located at 4419 Harrison Avenue NW, Suite 108, Olympia, Washington, on November 28 through December 6, 2017, and again on January 25 through February 1, 2018. FDA investigators observed serious violations of the current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for manufacturing, packing, or holding human food, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110 (21 CFR Part 110,” according to a March 23 warning letter made public by the FDA in recent days.

The firm failed to take effective measures to exclude pests from their processing areas and to protect against contamination of food on the premises by pests.

Specifically, FDA investigators documented evidence of rodent activity near food storage and preparation areas in the food processing facility.

“FDA sample INV 1037887, collected on January 25, 2018, during the current inspection, was analyzed by FDA’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory. The analysis of this sample confirmed the presence of REPs and confirmed the presence of rodent activity within your facility,” according to the warning letter.

The firm failed to provide adequate screening or other protection against pests, specifically, the rear exterior door to the facility was propped open to the outside each day of the inspection without adequate protection to prevent entry of pests into the production facility.

Food companies are given 15 working days to respond to FDA warning letters. “You should take prompt action to correct the violations noted in this letter. Failure to do so may result in regulatory action by FDA without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction,” according to the warning letter.