USA – New York food processors, Euroline Foods LLC and Royal Seafood Baza who jointly own a food processing facility have agreed to stop food preparation operations due to a possible Listeria contamination at the facility.

A statement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said since the facility’s food preparation areas were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), production will stop until the companies complies with federal food safety laws and regulations.

The food products include a variety of ready-to-eat foods and certain salt-cured and pickled fish.

A consent decree injuncted between U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan and the two companies prohibited the reception, preparation, processing, packing, holding, labeling and/or distributing foods at this facility until they meet certain regulations.

The defendants however, will be able to receive, hold and distribute food that remains completely sealed and enclosed by a container, and is in compliance with the FD&C Act.

“FDA investigators found widespread L. mono contamination at the Euroline and Royal Seafood facility,” said FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Melinda K. Plaisier.

“With this agreement, the company will not be able to bring any contaminated products or potentially contaminated products to market.

Conditions where their products were being produced were unacceptable, and the FDA took action to protect Americans.”

Failed audits

According to a filing by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of FDA, inspections carried out at the facility in 2015, 2016 and 2017 revealed the companies failed to comply with the FD&C Act.

It had failed implementing regulations such as the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations and Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP).

In 2015, FDA issued a warning letter to Royal Seafood Baza after a facility inspection identified violations of HACCP and CGMP regulation requirements.

In response to allegations, the company has conducted a voluntary, nationwide recall of its ready-to-eat herring products for L. mono concerns.

  1. mono causes listeriosis susceptible to a compromised immune system, the elderly, pregnant women and developing foetuses.