Something's Fishy About Jin Han International

By Sam Lewis

FDA sends warning letter to California seafood importer for HACCP violations

A warning letter was issued to Jin Han International on Sept 25 by the FDA. The letter states the company is importing and processing fish in a manner that is not in accordance with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines for seafood. These regulations are important, as they control major risks — chemical, microbiological, and physical — of food contaminations.

The letter says the company, doing business under the name Pacific Foods Co., is lacking specifications to ensure their imported fish products “are not injurious to health or have not been processed under insanitary conditions.” The inspection, completed between Aug 6 and Aug 15, found serious violations in the Commerce, CA company’s Mackerel Pike, canned Mackerel, and canned Bai-Top Shell, and labeled these products as “adulterated.”  

The FDA states in the letter that it expects Jin Han International/Pacific Foods Co. to respond to the warning within 15 days of its post-marked date. The response requires an outline of actions taken to correct the violations, citing specific actions taken, documentation of the actions, and the results of steps taken to correct the HACCP violations. If the company does not address the violations mentioned in the letter, the FDA may take further action, including placing the company’s fish and fishery products on “detention without physical examination,” seizure of the products, and even seizure of the entire company.

Since the inspection of the facility was completed more than a month prior to the letter being sent, the FDA places emphasis on stating not all violations could be addressed by the warning. The FDA stresses that the company is solely responsible for correcting the violations of HACCP, and insuring that issues the letter may not address are corrected. Finally, the FDA urges the company to adapt procedures to prevent further violations of the Act, along with all other regulations regarding importing fish products in the U.S.

The federal government shutdown could play a role in how quickly Pacific Foods Co./Jin Han International corrects its violations of HACCP code. Since the furlough began, the FDA has been working at roughly half staff. The retained staff has been reduced to absolutely essential duties like civil and criminal investigations and high risk recalls. However, it would seem that the issues the company has regarding HACCP would be a high priority for the FDA. But, with staffing down until further notice, the speed at which action (if needed) is taken might be greatly reduced.