Seafood processing facilities in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington State were issued “Warning Letters” on Oct. 15-16th by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (FDA).

The letters were released to the public Wednesday.

Novi, MI-based Cold Cut Kruise Inc. was warned about violating Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.

The Michigan company was specifically told it must have a hazard analysis for each kind of fish and fish product it produces and maintain sanitation control records.  The company makes both tuna salads and tuna salad sandwiches, both of which FDA said were adulterated because of unsanitary conditions.

Sheboygan, WI-based Schwarz Fish Company received a very similar Warning Letter.  Violations of HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practice regulations caused FDA to say that its ready-to-eat herring products, fresh shellfish, canned pasteurized crabmeat, and smoked fish products are all adulterated because they were “prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions…”

The Schwarz Fish Company was also told that it must do a hazard analysis for each fish or fishery product it produces.  FDA says Schwarz must implement monitoring procedures of internal fish temperatures and sanitary conditions.  Inspectors found both live and dead flies in the processing room and smoked fish cooler.

Bellingham, WA-based Trilogy Crab Co. also had fish products that were adulterated.

Trilogy’s violations involved six major areas.  It was advised it must monitor cooking and cold storage temperatures, improve its HACCP, take corrective actions to control pathogens, retain records, and improve sanitary conditions.

Inspectors reported Trilogy had a dog in the kitchen area during crab picking and packing.

All three seafood companies have 15 days to reply to FDA, and those letters may also be made public at some point.

Other food-related Warning Letters released Wednesday included one to the Shoshone, ID-based J & V Dairy for selling an animal for slaughter as food that was adulterated; and another to the Minatare, NE-based Minatare Feedlot Inc. for failing to maintain drug inventory records.