C-Store Sandwiches, Other Foods Seized In Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. -- U.S. marshals, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, seized possibly tainted tuna salad sandwiches and other foods worth $72,000 from the Bearden Sandwich Co. Inc., doing business as the Southern Belle Sandwich Co.

The action against the company, which distributes products to c-stores and other retailers in southern Louisiana; Mobile and Montgomery, Ala. and Crestview, Fla. was initiated because the products had been prepared, packed and held under unsanitary conditions that might have contaminated the foods or rendered them injurious to the public's health, the FDA said.

FDA inspectors reported evidence of widespread and active rodent and insect infestation, filthy conditions and poor employee practices, such as allowing food-processing utensils to lie on the floor near live insects. In addition, the tuna fish salad sandwiches were processed under conditions that violate Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations, according to an FDA statement.

The company distributes products to convenience and retail stores in southern Louisiana; Mobile, Ala.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Crestview, Fla.

In a statement, the FDA said it has not received reports of illnesses associated with consumption of the products.

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