FDA 483 - Dole Fresh Vegetables - Bessemer City - January 07, 2022

An FDA inspection of Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. in Bessemer City, NC, a ready-to-eat salad manufacturer, revealed significant deficiencies in sanitation controls, plant design, and equipment maintenance. Inspectors observed inadequate cleaning of food-contact surfaces, potential cross-contamination from product discharge chutes, and condensation dripping onto exposed product. Additionally, the plant's construction and equipment design were found to hinder sanitary operations and proper cleaning, posing risks of product contamination.