McNeil Consumer Healthcare initiated a recall of OTC drugs including Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Rolaids, St. Joseph aspirin because of reports of musty, moldy and mildew odors that were causing nausea and vomiting.
After further investigation, they discovered that there were trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole in the packaging that was the cause. This is a metabolite from a chemical fungicide used to treat wood pallets. Their packaging materials were received and stored on these pallets.
Every manufacturer in the food, ingredient, drug, nutritional field needs to evaluate their storage, receiving and shipping materials. Many items are stored on wooden pallets. Wood pallets still make up most of the shipping pallets used today. Certainly plastic and cardboard pallets exist, but wood is the staple of industry.
Add this to your inspections. If the trailer or pallets have an odor then inspect further. Certain food and drugs absorb odors more easily than others. Protect your products. Ask your suppliers to evaluate their pallet suppliers.
Protect the public and your company by protecting your products today.
Rudy
Rudy@powerinlearning.com
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Rat-Infested Food Facility Raided
The Food Production Daily news reported on that a Nashville facility that had been warned about issues but had not corrected them.
The FDA had warned the company in writing in May 2009. It detailed violations of Good Manufacturing Practices and lack of rodent and pest control measures. The facility received and stored bulk ingredients in route to restaurants.
In June, the company said that all issues were corrected. When a re-inspection occurred in November, there was "widespread rodent infestation in the building", said the agency. The facility allowed birds, insects and rodents to enter at will.
US Federal marshalls seized over $1million worth of inventory.
Let's look at the time line. A letter in May to the company, a response from the company in June and then 5 months later a re-inspection that resulted finally in a seizure.
Is this timing acceptable? Why would this take so long if it had potential of making someone ill?
We know that the FDA is in need of funding and in need of more inspectors.
What kind of company would allow itself to operate in this way?
What should local inspection (state, county, city) do to control sanitation and health issues?
Truly, we must get operators to do the right thing and protect the public. Food handling from field to table must continue to improve.
Ask questions where ever you are in the process.
Safeguarding the nations food supply is everyones business and responsibility.
As always, be safe out there.
Rudy
rudy@powerinlearning.com
The FDA had warned the company in writing in May 2009. It detailed violations of Good Manufacturing Practices and lack of rodent and pest control measures. The facility received and stored bulk ingredients in route to restaurants.
In June, the company said that all issues were corrected. When a re-inspection occurred in November, there was "widespread rodent infestation in the building", said the agency. The facility allowed birds, insects and rodents to enter at will.
US Federal marshalls seized over $1million worth of inventory.
Let's look at the time line. A letter in May to the company, a response from the company in June and then 5 months later a re-inspection that resulted finally in a seizure.
Is this timing acceptable? Why would this take so long if it had potential of making someone ill?
We know that the FDA is in need of funding and in need of more inspectors.
What kind of company would allow itself to operate in this way?
What should local inspection (state, county, city) do to control sanitation and health issues?
Truly, we must get operators to do the right thing and protect the public. Food handling from field to table must continue to improve.
Ask questions where ever you are in the process.
Safeguarding the nations food supply is everyones business and responsibility.
As always, be safe out there.
Rudy
rudy@powerinlearning.com
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