C&H Sugar Company – FDA EIR, Mar 28, 2019

An FDA surveillance inspection of C & H Sugar - ASR Group's Crockett, CA facility took place from March 26-28, 2019. This inspection, conducted under the Human and Animal Food Operations and Preventive Controls for Human Food frameworks, identified several areas requiring attention, although no formal Inspectional Observations (Form FDA 483) were issued. Key observations included deficiencies at the vessel watering point, such as an untested assembly, hoses on the ground, and unsanitary conditions. Issues with sifters for ready-to-eat sugar included a lack of a nearby handwashing sink and concerns about curtain cleanability. Packaging materials, specifically large rolls of brown paper bags, were found unprotected on the floor, and 4lb sugar bags in the warehouse were exposed. Furthermore, problems with sugar dryers involved cracked pipes and exposed internal components. The inspection also noted water accumulation near liquid sugar piping, a floor water leak, and a warehouse door left ajar near open sugar bins, posing contamination risks. Finally, the company lacked scientific documentation to justify differing microbiological testing limits for brown versus white sugar. Management committed to corrective actions within 60 to 120 days, including testing and maintaining the vessel watering assembly, retraining staff on hygiene and packaging material protection, repairing equipment, improving water management, securing facility access, and providing scientific justification for testing thresholds. Photography was refused during the inspection.