FDA EIR - Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. - February 24, 2017

An FDA inspection of Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. was conducted from February 13-24, 2017, focusing on domestic food safety and general food labeling. The inspection revealed three significant observations documented on Form FDA-483, two of which were repeat issues from a 2010 inspection, indicating recurring compliance challenges. The main violations centered on inadequate protection against contamination during processing and storage. Firstly, the company failed to handle work-in-progress to prevent contamination. This included roasting various nuts (peanuts, tree nuts, seeds) sequentially in the same oil without documentation of oil changes or adequate filtration, posing a cross-contamination risk for allergens. Additionally, chocolate scrapings containing allergens were collected from the floor for re-work into other products without proper allergen identification on labels. Secondly, the inspection found a failure to clean food-contact surfaces and utensils frequently enough. Soiled utensils were observed, and cleaning procedures lacked controls for cross-contamination when switching between allergen-containing and non-allergen products on shared equipment. Finally, the firm failed to store finished food under conditions protecting against deterioration. Specifically, roasted macadamia nuts were packaged directly into absorbent cardboard boxes without plastic liners, leading to oil seepage, pallet saturation, and a potential risk for microbial growth and contamination. These deficiencies highlight non-compliance with relevant Good Manufacturing Practices. Management acknowledged the findings, promised corrective actions, and committed to submitting a written response to the FDA-483 observations, with discussions including developing better nut drying methods and enhancing employee sanitation training.