Waves & Wine, Inc. – FDA Warning Letter, Jan 30, 2026

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Warning Letter to Waves and Wine, Inc. following a compliance inspection conducted from January 21 to January 30, 2026, at its Mendota, California facility. The inspection identified several significant safety violations regarding the manufacturing of pet food, which is regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the specific safety requirements for animal food (21 CFR Part 507). The primary issues involved the company’s failure to implement effective controls for biological hazards. FDA testing discovered Listeria monocytogenes in batches of frozen cat and dog food. The company failed to take appropriate corrective actions, lacking documentation to prove that contaminated batches were handled safely or that their updated processes would prevent future contamination. Furthermore, the FDA noted that Waves and Wine did not conduct necessary onsite audits of their suppliers and used scientific studies to justify their safety protocols that were not applicable to their actual production methods. General sanitation and manufacturing practices were also found to be deficient. Investigators observed cross-contamination risks from employees handling raw meat with dirty gloves, condensation dripping directly onto finished product, and equipment that was not properly cleaned after maintenance. Waves and Wine, Inc. is required to provide a written response within 15 working days detailing the specific steps taken to correct these violations and prevent their recurrence. Failure to address these concerns promptly may result in legal or regulatory action.