As many of you have seen, FDA mandated a recall affecting Valley Milk Products.
http://www.fda.gov/S...s/ucm532828.htm
This recall had a great ripple effect, as those dairy products were used as ingredient in many other products (Chips, cake mixes, candy, etc)
As far as I have read, the problem was that during an inspection in the summer-2016 (jul-sep 2016), poor sanitary practices were observed and record review showed the presence of Salmonella in the factory environment, which had been rpesent in several years (starting from 2010) and was thus deemed persistent.
VMP was asked to make a voluntary recall, they refused, and FDA filed a complaint through DOJ and the Courts ordered the US Marshals to seize the product, which they did in late Nov-2016.
Dec-2016 saw the notification from FDA that products were adulterated and that all companies using this products without a kill-step must also recall.
What has me baffled is the fact that none of the products has tested possitive for Salmonella; none of the companies has received complains; and no ilnesses were reported.
Making this a cautionary recall, which was mandated by FDA.
My questions are?
- How could this be handled better?
- Why did MVP refuse to recall?
- Why did it take 3 months if the product was considered a danger to public health?
- Given that all the products have tested negative (so far) and that the cost of the recall is way over $1Billion; how can we handle recalls of what seems prefectly safe product?
Your thoughts and comments are appreciated
