At the behest of the US FDA, Los Angeles-based L.A. Star Seafood Company Inc. has been ordered by a judge to halt its operations until it can comply with the food safety laws and regulations.
The company, owned by Sima and Sam Goldring, had recalled some of its potentially contaminated seafood at the request of the FDA in 2012. Following two more inspections of the facility in the next two years, the company was issued warnings by the FDA for continued non-compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
The FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Melinda K. Plaisier, said: "The FDA takes legal action to protect the public's health when it is necessary. This consent decree represents an agreement between the FDA and L.A. Star to ensure that if and when they reopen for business, they will be producing food that meets food safety requirements."
The Californian seafood company is required by the consent decree of permanent injunction to keep a control over the presence of two disease-causing bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and Clostridium botulinum (C. bot).
The company is also required by the decree to devise, implement and train staff in Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plans.
The foodborne pathogen L. mono can be a cause for life-threatening sickness in the elderly, infants and people with deficient immune systems. The bacterium C. bot, which causes the rare botulism and can grow in seafood, brings about paralysis and even death, if not treated immediately.
No incidents of sickness have been reported so far regarding the products of L.A. Star Seafood Company.
