FDA Seizes Food at Ice Cream Cone Maker, Cites Rodent and Insect Infestation

WASHINGTONU.S. marshals have seized food at two Virginia companies after investigators observed an insect and rodent infestation on the premises, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today.

Gourmet Provisions, LLC, which manufactures and packages ice cream cones and does business as Matts Supreme Cones , and Royal Cup, Inc., which stores coffee service items in a separate area within Gourmet Provisions' warehouse in Waynesboro, Va., were subject to the seizures, FDA said.

In addition to finding rodent and insect activity on the premises, FDA investigators detected unclean equipment and structural defects, the agency said.

Although no illnesses have been associated with the seized food, FDA said the companies failed to implement measures to keep out insects and rodents and neglected to protect food and related contact surfaces from contamination.

FDA seized the products under warrants issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Some of the products had been under an embargo by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the agency noted.

Matt's Supreme Cones and Royal Cup did not immediately return phone calls placed late today seeking comment.