Seafood processors came in for their share of “Warning Letters” released Dec. 1st by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The letters, dated from Sept. 23rd to Nov. 19th cover inspections that occurred last spring and summer.

Here is who was on the receiving end:

Vista-CA-based Orval Kent Food Company Inc. was warned about “serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.” Its refrigerated ready-to-eat salmon, vacuum-packaged claim chowder were found to e adulterated “in that they may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to heath.”

Denver-based Okami Inc. was also warned about violating HACCP regulations.  “According, your vacuum packaged imitation pasteurized crabmeat is adulterated, in that it has been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health.”

Denver-based Culinaire Inc. received a “Warning Letter” for its “serious deviations from the seafood HACCP regulations that results in its fishery products being adulterated and potentially injurious to health.  The company made some additions to its HACCP plans on July 10th, but FDA still has concerns, especially about cooking processes to control pathogens.

South San Francisco, CA-based CTC Food International was warned about importing fish that might not be processed under conditions equivalent to those required of domestic fish.  FDA has specific concerns about frozen horse mackerel and prepared squid.

Longview, TX-based CFS Operating Limited, doing business as Cloud’s Food Service, received a “Warning Letter” charging it with violating the seafood HACCP regulations and making the tuna salad sandwiches and other ready-to-eat sandwiches it produces adulterated and potentially injurious to health.

Detroit-based United Fish Distributors Inc. was warned about unsanitary conditions found inside the plant during a July 15-27, 2009 inspection.  Examples included an oil can in the processing room above the boning table, a white, unlabeled bucket with blue liquid in the room while Whitefish fillets were being processed, and cloth gloves being soaked in a white, unlabeled bucket containing pink liquid also during Whitefish processing.

Wadena, MN-based Mason Brothers Co. was warned that its was not in compliance with HACCP, putting its Herring in Wine Sauce product in danger of being adulterated.  The letter seeks more detail on steps Mason Brothers Co. is taking to comply with the law and regulations.

Firms getting warning letters have 15 days to respond to FDA with information on how they are coming into compliance.