Illinois Food Processor Receives Injunction From FDA
Fortune Food Product, Inc., a sprouts and soy product processor, committed several food safety violations.
- By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
- Sep 17, 2020
The FDA announced that Fortune Food Product, Inc. agreed to stop production on September 15, 2020 after violating public safety standards under the Produce Safety Rule and failing to comply with Produce Safety and Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
The Product Safety Rule, which was enacted in 2011, requires covered sprout operations to take several preventative health and safety measures such as testing spent sprout irrigation water for certain pathogens.
This is the first consent decree of permanent injunction against a firm or grower for such a violation. Fortune Food Product, Inc., located in Chicago, Illinois, won’t start production again until it undertakes remedial action and complies with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
“Manufacturing foods in violation of the Produce Safety Rules and Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations places consumers’ health at risk,” said FDA Chief Counsel Stacy Amin. “This action demonstrates the agency’s commitment to pursuing and taking swift action against those who repeatedly disregard these food safety standards and distribute adulterated food.”
Insanitary conditions were noted during multiple inspections of Fortune Food, but there are no confirmed illnesses traced to Fortune Food products. Under the consent decree, the company is prohibited from growing, harvesting, packing and holding sprouts and soy products at their facility or any other until corrective actions are taken and the FDA is notified.
Information on FDA regulations can be found at fda.gov.
About the Author
Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.