FDA Releases Warning Letter to Kellogg

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made public Monday a Jan. 27 warning letter to Eggo waffle maker Kellogg Co. which said the company had not adequately addressed food-safety violations at its Atlanta frozen-food plant where an October 2009 inspection found a number of sanitation violations in connection with Listeria monocytogenes contamination of Eggo buttermilk waffles.

FDAs Jan. 27 warning letter outlined an Oct. 22-29 inspection at Kelloggs Atlanta facility following the finding by the Georgia Department of Agriculture in late August that led to the recall of Eggo Cinnamon Toast waffles and Eggo Toaster Swirlz.

As reported by Baking Business, Violations included employees in the mixing room using high pressure water to clean equipment that splashed near exposed raw materials; an uncovered cart containing trash located within close proximity of exposed raw materials in the mixing room; condensate and drippage in the waffle production area above lines that were transporting exposed products; a maintenance employee not wearing gloves while touching exposed finished product; an employee touching his nose and moustache after washing his hands and not using sanitizer or re-washing his hands before returning to the work area.