The Food and Drug Administration is moving forward with plans to shut down a seafood distributor that they say is endangering public health.
A permanent injunction is being sought by the FDA against Fujino Enterprises Inc., more commonly known as Blue Ocean Smokehouse, a company based out of Half Moon Bay. That injunction would prevent the continued processing and distribution of fish products. The Department of Justice has filed a complaint.
Findings by the FDA have shown that the fish products made by Blue Ocean are adulterated. The conditions used to process these food items fail to comply with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point regulations, which are supposed to be in place in order to spot hazards and prevent their further occurrence.
The FDA also claims that preparation conditions don’t meet standards set by Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, citing an October inspection which showed unsatisfactory employee hygiene and inadequate contamination protection.
In addition, it was discovered that the company’s products may contain a botulism toxin that cannot be removed through heating or freezing. Listeria monocytogenes, an infection causing agent, was also found on various surfaces, and Blue Ocean’s tuna was at risk of contracting scombrotoxin.
All things considered, this seems pretty damning to a San Diego personal injury lawyer like me. When companies fail to comply with the FDA, steps must and will be taken to ensure public safety. As a personal injury lawyer in Riverside, I just hope things get fixed before someone gets hurt.