The U.S. Department of Agriculture shut down a Foster Farms poultry processing plant in Livingston, Calif., Wednesday, saying it was infested with live cockroaches, which can pose a threat to public health.
The move comes even as that site and two other California chicken plants remain under heightened USDA scrutiny following two outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning in the past year, including one that is ongoing and has sickened at least 416 people in 23 states and Puerto Rico.
"Today our inspectors observed insanitary conditions in the plant," said Adam Tarr, a spokesman for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
USDA officials said they couldn't confirm how many cockroaches were found or where in the fresh chicken production plant they were located. But a letter from the USDA to Foster said cockroaches were observed at a hand wash sink near an inspection station.
The agency pulled the inspectors from the plant, which effectively shuts down the operation.
Click here to access the entire article.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com
Latest from Quality Assurance & Food Safety
- USDA Indefinitely Delays Salmonella Testing Program for Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken
- American Soybean Association Names New Industry Relations Leadership
- Babybel Transitions From Cellophane to Paper Packaging
- Ambriola Company Recalls Cheese Products Due to Listeria Risk
- Horizon Family Brands Acquires Maple Hill Creamery
- Kellanova Shares Top Five Consumer Packaged Goods Tech Trends Shaping 2026
- Stay Ahead of Supply Chain Pressure
- Brendan Niemira Named IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer
