"The company, under its legal filing, agreed to a consent decree under which it cannot again operate at its facility until it develops a listeria monitoring program, creates a food safety employee training program, and meets other training and safety requirements." The company responded that they "have always placed great importance on producing high-quality food and on food safety. We are well aware of the Complaint and Consent Decree that was recently filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We agreed to enter the Consent Decree to resolve outstanding compliance issues raised by the FDA rather than in response to any known health concerns."
MI Live
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2018/11/ionia_county_food_processor_sh.html
Ionia County food processor shutting down in response to safety, compliance issues
Updated Nov 30; Posted Nov 30
By Brian McVicar, bmcvicar@mlive.com
IONIA COUNTY, MI - A Saranac-based food processing company - where safety inspectors found unsanitary conditions, including listeria bacteria - is shutting down after federal attorneys requested that the company cease operations until it complies with food safety rules, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Attorneys representing Saranac Brand Foods, 60 South Bridge Street, which prepared and distributed more than 30 ready-to-eat foods, including salads, dips, sauces and other products, said in a legal filing that the company intends to "dissolve as a legal entity as soon as practicable."
The company says it discontinued operations in early August.
The filing came on the same day as attorneys representing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed a complaint in federal court in Grand Rapids asking a judge to grant a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from operating until it fixed its compliance issues.
The complaint documented numerous issues discovered by food safety inspectors during a Nov. 29, 2017 inspection at the facility, including the presence of listeria bacteria, which can cause fever and diarrhea. It also stated that inspectors witnessed employees spaying off a soiled food cart, causing "spray to be deflected onto an uncovered food car containing coleslaw," as well as employees failing to wash their hands before handling food and food-contact equipment.
Saranac Brands Food, which employed 14 people prior to closing, is owned by Dennis and Daniel Nowak.
They could not be reached for comment. But through their attorney, they issued a statement saying they were unaware of any foodborne illnesses caused by their products.
"Saranac Brand Foods, Inc. is a locally-owned food processing company that manufactured deli-salads and dips and served customers in Michigan for almost 55 years," the company's statement said.
The company says it discontinued operations in early August.
The filing came on the same day as attorneys representing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed a complaint in federal court in Grand Rapids asking a judge to grant a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from operating until it fixed its compliance issues.
The complaint documented numerous issues discovered by food safety inspectors during a Nov. 29, 2017 inspection at the facility, including the presence of listeria bacteria, which can cause fever and diarrhea. It also stated that inspectors witnessed employees spaying off a soiled food cart, causing "spray to be deflected onto an uncovered food car containing coleslaw," as well as employees failing to wash their hands before handling food and food-contact equipment.
Saranac Brands Food, which employed 14 people prior to closing, is owned by Dennis and Daniel Nowak.
They could not be reached for comment. But through their attorney, they issued a statement saying they were unaware of any foodborne illnesses caused by their products.
"Saranac Brand Foods, Inc. is a locally-owned food processing company that manufactured deli-salads and dips and served customers in Michigan for almost 55 years," the company's statement said.
"We have always placed great importance on producing high-quality food and on food safety. We are well aware of the Complaint and Consent Decree that was recently filed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We agreed to enter the Consent Decree to resolve outstanding compliance issues raised by the FDA rather than in response to any known health concerns. Saranac Brand Foods is not aware of ANY food-borne illnesses and/or other health issues caused by any food products manufactured by the Company. Saranac Brand Foods ceased production of any and all food products over three months ago."
The company, under its legal filing, agreed to a consent decree under which it cannot again operate at its facility until it develops a listeria monitoring program, creates a food safety employee training program, and meets other training and safety requirements.
The company, under its legal filing, agreed to a consent decree under which it cannot again operate at its facility until it develops a listeria monitoring program, creates a food safety employee training program, and meets other training and safety requirements.
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