FDA WARNING_LETTER - South Bay Cold Storage and Handling, Inc. - July 08, 2025

South Bay Cold Storage & Handling, Inc., located in Los Angeles, California, was issued an FDA warning letter following an inspection conducted between July 1 and July 8, 2025. The inspection revealed that the facility"s seafood processing and storage operations were in violation of federal safety standards, specifically the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations. These failures led the FDA to conclude that the company’s products, including vacuum-packed crabmeat, smoked salmon, and various scombroid fish species, were handled under conditions that could pose a risk to public health.

Key violations included the lack of a safety plan to manage food allergens during the repackaging of fish, and inadequate temperature controls during transit and storage. Specifically, the company"s safety plans failed to ensure that refrigerated products remained at safe temperatures (at or below 40°F) to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria or the development of toxins. Furthermore, the company failed to implement frequent monitoring of temperature data loggers. Inspectors also identified sanitation issues, such as employees failing to use detergent when cleaning equipment used for ice handling.

To address these findings, the CEO must provide a written response to the FDA within 15 working days. This response must outline the specific corrective measures taken to resolve the violations and include supporting documentation. Failure to rectify these issues promptly may result in legal actions, such as the seizure of products or the suspension of the facility’s registration.