The FDA found serious violations — including pathogenic Listeria — at a “multiple food manufacturing facility,” owned by Whole Foods Markets Inc., according to a warning letter posted today.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration sent the letter about the Everett, MA, “factory kitchen” to Austin, Texas -based Whole Foods on June 8, but did not order the company to cease operations there.
Whole Foods calls the facility its North Atlantic Kitchen.
During an inspection of the facility in February, the agency found numerous violations of current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
FDA said foods manufactured at the facility — pesto pasta, mushroom quesadilla, vegetables, chives and beets, ready-to-east egg salad — were being “prepared, packed or held under insanitary condition whereby they may be have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.”
The warning letter said the Whole Foods facility was failing to take steps to control the growth of microorganisms and contamination and cited several examples. It further said Whole Foods failed to maintain equipment.
