Feds Seek Permanent Injunction Against NY Juice Company

WASHINGTONCiting the companys failure to correct violations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked the U.S. Department of Justice on Oct. 8 to seek a permanent injunction against a Brooklyn juice company to prevent it from processing and distributing juice products.

According to the complaint, Delores H. Campbell and Winston A. Fearon and their company, Juices Inc. (also known as Juices International and Juices Enterprises), are charged with violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by failing to have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan for certain juice products, including its carrot and beet juice products. FDA requires all juice processors to have and implement HACCP plans that identify and control food hazards associated with their juices.

The complaint also charges Juices Inc., Campbell and Fearon with failing to conform to current good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements for making, packing, or holding human food. Juice products that are produced under conditions that do not comply with HACCP or GMP requirements are considered adulterated under the Act.

Other violations included failures to adequately heat and refrigerate low-acid vegetable juices to destroy or prevent growth of dangerous microorganisms; properly clean food-contact surfaces; and maintain plumbing in a manner that avoids a source of possible food and water contamination.

FDAs most recent inspection of the Juices facility in March 2010 found the same or similar violations observed during previous inspections of the company. FDA issued warning letters to the company in April 2008 and October 2009, and the company promised to bring its operations into compliance but did not make the necessary changes.

The company purchases ingredients, such as carrots and beets, that originate outside of New York and sells products to foodservice establishments primarily in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Various violations involved the following brands: Double Trouble Carrot Punch, Carrot Juice Drink, Carrot & Ginger Drink, Beet Carrot Juice Drink, Agony Peanut Punch, Cashew Punch, and Irish Sea Moss. Other company products stored at the facility during FDA visits were Front End Lifter Magnum Punch, Ginger Beer, Sorrell Drink, Pineapple Twist and Soursop Juice.