DOJ Reaches Consent Decree with Valley Milk Over Contaminated Milk Powders
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has obtained a consent decree against Valley Milk Products LLC prohibiting the sale of more than four million pounds of milk powder products and preventing the company from manufacturing the products in the future. U.S. v. All 50 pound high heat nonfat dry milk powder (Grade A), No. 16-0076, (W.D. Va., order entered March 17, 2017). DOJ seized dry milk and dry buttermilk products at the company’s Strasburg, Virginia, facility in November 2016 after FDA inspections found unsanitary conditions and confirmed samples of Salmonella and Listeria.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Salmonella strains were “nearly identical” to strains found at Strasburg in 2010, 2011 and 2013, indicating “the existence of persistent/resident strain and harborage” of the bacteria at the facility. DOJ also alleged the products were “contaminated with filth” after inspectors found dark brown droplets forming on metal surfaces of processing equipment, water dripping from overhead pipes onto a finishing vat, and buildup of dried residues in tanks and pipes even after Valley Milk performed a site cleaning.
Valley Milk cannot use the milk powder products unless the company can prove to the FDA that they are no longer contaminated. The company also is enjoined from producing milk powders at any of its other facilities. Valley Milk issued a recall for the products in December 2016.
Issue 628
