Hohberg Poultry Ranch F1/F2 – FDA Warning Letter, May 4, 2012

On August 30, 2012, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Hohberg Poultry Ranches following inspections in April-May 2012 at three facilities in California. The inspections revealed serious violations of the Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in Shell Eggs regulation (21 CFR Part 118), rendering the shell eggs adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Key violations included: * **SE Prevention Plans:** Failure to include practices to prevent cross-contamination from equipment and personnel movement between poultry houses (21 CFR 118.4(b)(2), 118.4(b)(3)). Plans also lacked measures to prevent stray animals (118.4(b)(4)), procedures for debris/vegetation removal (118.4(c)(3)), and specific cleaning/disinfection procedures for SE-positive tests (118.4(d)). Plans also failed to include procedures for holding and transporting eggs at or below 45°F (118.4(e)). * **Biosecurity & Sanitation:** Observations of cats and wild birds inside poultry houses, cluttered debris and vegetation outside, and spilled feed attracting pests. The same manure scraper was used across all farms without sufficient cleaning/disinfection practices or documentation. * **Environmental Testing:** Failure to perform SE environmental testing at 40-4