The U.S. Food and Drug Administration office has requested that the U.S. Marshals to seize food products kept at a processing and food storage facility in Washington State. According to official reports, the warehouse was inspected by the FDA and found to have a very active infestation of rodents and insects in both warehouse and processing areas.
The first complaint issued by the FDA was filed on September 29th claiming that the food being kept in the Washington State facility had been adulterated, taking into account the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act known as FFDCA. The complaint asked for immediate action from the Court so a warrant could be issued for the U.S. Marshals to be allowed to take hold of all products present in the facility. According to recent reports, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington agreed on issuing a warrant the same day.
According to the FFDCA, after amended by the FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act, officials may order the detaining of any type of food during an inspection when food adulteration or misbranding is suspected to have happened. An FDA associate commissioner has stated that all enforcement tools must be used so that no adulterated foods will get to consumers.
As a Los Angeles product liability lawyer I’m happy with the fact that the FDA is upholding a competent food inspection nationwide. Unfortunately, many personal injury lawyers are very familiar with cases related to severe illnesses and even deaths of individuals exposed to contaminated food products. Don’t hesitate in contacting a lawyer if that has been your case.