FDA in U.S. issues warning letters to two Ecuadorian seafood processors

foodsafetynews.com reported that two seafood processors in Ecuador received warning letters. The Guayaquil-based Star Company S.A. was subjected to FDA inspection last June 2-3, 2014, and was afterwards provided with a copy of the FDA 483 form containing inspector observations.

Star Company responded in writing on July 4, 2014, with corrective measures it planned to take, but the company did not provide FDA with a copy of its HACCP plan.

In the Sept. 24 warning letter, FDA told the company that it must have a HACCP plan with a hazard analysis for each kind of fish or fish product it processes. Star Company is a processor of both wild- and farm-raised shrimp, and FDA said that each of those must be addressed in the HACCP plan.

GAIN A DEEPER CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF ECUADOR – READ THIS BOOK

While in Ecuador, FDA also inspected Duran-based Crimasa Criaderos De Mariscos, S.A. on June 5-6, 2014. It is also a processor of both farm-raised and wild-caught shrimp, and it, too, was provided with the written observations of the inspectors. Crimasa responded in writing on June 27, 2014, but FDA said the responses were not adequate because the company did not revise its HACCP plan to include aquacultured shrimp products.

The Nov. 24 warning letter says the company must address biological, chemical, or physical properties that may cause its farm-raised shrimp on-shell product to become unsafe. Read Article