FDA EIR - South Georgia Pecan Company - March 16, 2018

An FDA inspection of South Georgia Pecan Company, a nut processor located in Valdosta, GA, was conducted from March 13-16, 2018. This inspection focused on the firm's adherence to Modernized Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and Preventive Controls for Human Food, as outlined in the FY18 Food Work Plan, specifically for packaged shelled tree nuts. The inspection resulted in the issuance of an FDA-483 form, citing a significant observation: the company failed to operate under conditions and controls necessary to minimize potential microorganism growth, allergen cross-contact, and food contamination. This was primarily due to the practice of collecting pecan "floor sweepings" from processing areas and reprocessing them into finished products without adequate controls. The investigator highlighted that this could introduce biological, chemical, physical, and various allergen hazards, especially given the facility processes multiple allergens. While management initially contested this, they committed to corrective actions. Additionally, other issues were identified and immediately corrected during the inspection. These included unidentified allergen containers, open allergen containers stored above non-allergen products, and an allergen changeover log that omitted critical equipment. The company was advised to submit a written response to the FDA-483 observations within 15 business days, with management affirming their intent to implement corrective measures.