FDA Serves Warrant for Inspection of Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc.
At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals
executed an inspection warrant at Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. (Westco/Westcott), an Irvington, N.J.-based
company. Westco/Westcott did not provide access to distribution documents and declined to recall products
after an FDA request. Regulated companies are required by law to grant FDA entry for inspection, as well as
provide access to distribution records. The FDA does not have authority to compel companies to recall food
products, such as peanuts. The company, which produces and distributes peanuts and peanut products,
received peanuts and peanut product from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), a Georgia company
that recalled products in January due to concerns of Salmonella contamination. Despite PCA's effort to
remove the affected product from the market and FDA's intervention, Westco/Westcott has refused to recall its
products. Read more...
