The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued orders for food manufactured and stored by two Virginia companies to be seized by U.S. marshals.
The companies, Gourmet Provisions LLC and Royal Cup Inc., stored production at a warehouse where FDA officials had found widespread rodent and insect infestation, as well as evidence of other violations of industry best practices, such as unclean equipment and structural defects to the building.
At present, there are no reports of people becoming sick after consuming products stored by the two companies but officials decided that Gourmet Provisions and Royal Cup had failed to take measures to improve conditions at the warehouse, resulting in the FDA order.
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According to Melinda K. Plaisier, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the agency, companies were responsible for the safety and quality of their own production. This includes making sure that all food products are properly manufactured, packaged and handled. If this is not the case, it is the duty of the FDA to ensure that consumers are fully protected.
Both companies share the same warehouse in Waynesboro, Va., the FDA explained. Gourmet Provisions specializes in production and packaging of ice cream cones, as well as the storage of other finished products. Royal Cup only occupies a small part of the warehouse, where it stores coffee service products.
