FDA WARNING_LETTER - The Father's Table, LLC - February 13, 2025

The FDA issued a Warning Letter to The Father's Table, LLC following an inspection from January 13 to February 13, 2025, at their Sanford, FL facility, which manufactures ready-to-eat (RTE) cheesecakes and cake rolls. The inspection revealed serious violations of food safety regulations and practices, particularly concerning the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventative Controls for Human Food regulation (21 CFR Part 117). A primary concern was the widespread presence of *Listeria monocytogenes*, a human pathogen, detected through environmental swabs from both food and non-food contact surfaces in the production areas. This indicated inadequate sanitation controls and a failure to prevent contamination, rendering the RTE products adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The company also failed to implement adequate preventive controls to significantly minimize or prevent environmental pathogens. Additionally, investigators observed condensation dripping from a cooling unit onto exposed confectioner's sugar used for RTE cake rolls, highlighting deficiencies in plant design and maintenance to facilitate sanitary operations. The FDA acknowledged some voluntary corrective actions, including halting production and enhanced cleaning. However, the agency remains concerned about the firm's ability to maintain a sanitary environment. The Father's Table, LLC is required to promptly correct all violations, identify and eliminate sources of *L. monocytogenes*, revise sanitation procedures with intensified swabbing, and ensure full compliance with federal food safety laws. A written response detailing specific steps and documentation must be submitted to the FDA within fifteen working days.