Ocean Pride Seafood, Inc. – FDA Warning Letter, Apr 1, 2026

The FDA issued a warning letter to Ocean Pride Seafood, Inc. following an inspection of its Ventura, California facility from March 23 to April 1, 2026. The agency determined that the company’s ready-to-eat seafood products are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they were prepared and held under insanitary conditions. The facility committed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations by failing to implement necessary safety monitoring and record-keeping procedures.

Specific violations included a lack of monitoring for hazards such as histamine formation and bacterial growth, with some records missing since late 2022. The FDA noted that the company’s revised safety plans were inadequate, failing to address species-specific risks like parasites or provide sufficient temperature controls. Furthermore, investigators observed alarming sanitation issues, including employees washing fish on the floor, mold and rust on ice machines, and the presence of flying insects in the processing area. These findings represent repeat violations from a previous 2019 inspection.

Ocean Pride Seafood must respond within 15 working days detailing the corrective steps taken to ensure compliance. This response must include revised safety plans and five consecutive days of monitoring records to demonstrate that the new procedures are being implemented. Failure to address these concerns may result in legal action, including product seizures or the suspension of the facility"s registration.