Around 5,000 cases of frozen crab products that were processed by Rhode Island-based Rome Packing Company were seized by federal officials in the US over possible Listeria contamination.
The government alleged that Rome Packing manufactured, packed and processed Jonah crab products in a facility that was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had inspected the company's production facility six times and observed that the company did not follow the right temperatures during the cooking process of crabs. If the temperatures are not sufficiently controlled, it results in the growth of pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes.
The samples collected from three areas of the facility are believed to have been found positive with Listeria. The inspection also revealed that the company followed poor hygiene practices and therefore, the possibility of cross-contamination between finished and raw food products was high.
The crab products were seized from warehouses in Lakeville, which were being monitored by FDA officials.
Last May, Rome Packing recalled its Ocean Catch brand's minced crab meat and a few month later, it recalled Ocean Catch brand crab legs and other meat products due to possible Listeria contamination.
The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act gives authority to the government to seize food products if they are prepared in unhygienic conditions which may result in the products getting contaminated or pose threat to public health.
Image: Crab products were seized by federal officials over Listeria concerns. Photo: Courtesy of hin255/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
