FDA WARNING_LETTER - Lucky Farm Inc - October 02, 2009

An FDA inspection of a bean sprout processing facility in Portland, Oregon, conducted on multiple dates in September and October 2009, revealed significant insanitary conditions, rendering products adulterated under Section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Key violations included: 1. **Pest Infestation:** Observation of live rodents (on glue traps and removed by staff), rodent excreta pellets near open bins of sprouts and on seed bags, and numerous live flies and fungus gnats in processing and growing rooms. 2. **Poor Employee Hygiene:** Employees touched unclean non-food-contact surfaces (rodent traps, rusty doors, carts, stepping stools, plastic curtains) and then handled ready-to-eat sprouts without washing or sanitizing hands or changing gloves. One employee used gloves with a hole. 3. **Inadequate Equipment Cleaning:** Bean sprout wash tanks, conveyor belts, and holding tanks had residue (bean sprout, black, brown) after cleaning and before processing. Spinner buckets had rough-edged holes with brown residue. 4. **Improper Cleaning Practices:** Pressurized water sprayed onto a pitted, slimy floor splashed onto sprout washing equipment during processing. 5. **Structural Deficiencies:** Gaps in walls (around a sink drain pipe, a three-inch diameter hole), and gaps under loading dock and south doors allowed pest entry.

The firm verbally committed to corrective actions