Using the FSVP the FDA issued the first warning letter to the importer of Tahini implicated in Salmonella outbreak

FDA Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D., announced the issuance of the first warning letter to a U.S. food importer using our authority under FSMA’s Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) regulation. The warning letter follows an FDA inspection conducted in response to a recent Salmonella outbreak, which revealed that the importer was not in compliance with the FSVP. The FDA announced that it would take more steps to ensure compliance with FSVP, including reinspecting importers that had deficiencies in previous inspections and by acting immediately when FSVP deficiencies are found that pose an imminent public health risk. The warning letter, dated July 30, was issued to the Brodt Zenatti Holdings LLC in Jupiter, Florida who imported Tahini from the Israel-based manufacturer, Karawan Tahini and Halva. Brodt Zenatti Holdings LLC was found to violate the FSVP rule; requiring importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that food imported has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards. Failure to correct violations can lead to Import Alert #99-41 (Detention Without Physical Examination Of Food Products Due To The Presence Of Salmonella, and is subject to detention without physical examination). @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-brief/fda-brief-fda-issues-first-warning-letter-importer-tahini-implicated-recent-salmonella-outbreak?utm_campaign=081319_FIB_FDA%20issues%20warning%20letter%20under%20Foreign%20Supplier%20Verification%20Programs&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua