FDA’s most recently published data on commonly occurring inspection violations at food facilities indicates food safety issues that FDA may likely search for while inspecting a facility. The most frequent violations in FY2016 included:
- Lack of Effective Pest Exclusion / Screening – FDA cites a facility for not taking effective preventative measures against pest presence in food processing areas or not implementing controls to protect food from contamination due to pests.
- Sanitation Monitoring – FDA cites a facility for failing to effectively monitor sanitation practices and conditions consistently.
- Floors, Walls, and Ceilings – FDA cites a facility for being constructed in a way that inhibits proper sanitation and repair of the floors, walls, and ceilings.
- Importer Verification – FDA cites a seafood importer for failing to document verification of a supplier’s compliance with Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Regulations.
- HACCP Plan Implementation – FDA cites a facility for failing to implement procedures established in its written HACCP Plan. It is important to note that following the compliance date in September 2016, FDA is now likely to also check for proper implementation of Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Control (HARPC) Plans at most food facilities.
Several violations in the above list were just as frequent in 2015 as they were in 2016.
Proper preparation for an initial inspection may reduce the chance of FDA citing a facility for violations that can cause return visits. Having a third party trained in FDA inspections review your facility for violations is often an invaluable business decision. Poor results from an initial inspection not only can result in an expensive reinspection, but also in Warning Letters and other public information that could damage a brand’s reputation. While there may be costs associated with third-party assistance, it is likely more affordable than the alternative.
