November 8, 2006

FDA gets tough on US seafood supplier

The Food and Drug Administration is threatening to shut down a popular seafood supplier in the US state of Minnesota as it claims the company is not properly recording temperatures.

The FDA requires seafood to be stored at 41 deg F or below.

Coastal Seafoods delivers 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of fish a day to about 100 restaurants and hotels.

According to the agency, seven FDA inspections over the past six years revealed that the company failed to establish and implement adequate Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans to prevent and control food safety hazards. 

However, the FDA has not found problems when the seafood from Coastal was tested and there have been no reports of illnesses from eating Coastal's seafood.

The FDA introduced stricter rules for seafood processors six years ago. Studies had shown the government was not doing enough, so the FDA began conducting more inspections and requiring businesses to keep more records. Coastal says it is the paperwork that is causing the problems.

Tim Lauer, manager at Coastal Seafoods, said the company would negotiate and try to find a resolution to current allegations.

Meanwhile, HACCP experts and customers have been vouching for Coastal, saying it is one of the better suppliers and has no history of complaints or illnesses.

Since receiving the warning, Coastal Seafoods has added a new automated temperature programme which continuously tracks the temperatures in its coolers and alarms that will sound if the temperatures get too high.