Federal Judge Enters Injunction Against Macomb County Cheese Manufacturer
CLINTON TWP. (WWJ/AP) - A federal court in Detroit has entered an injunction against a Macomb County company to prevent the distribution of adulterated cheese products.
The Justice Department says the injunction follows a court ruling last year involving S. Serra Cheese, of Clinton Townshi, and its co-owners Stefano Serra and Fina Serra.
The company prepares, processes and distributes several varieties of pasteurized, ready-to-eat cheeses, such as ricotta, provolone, mozzarella and primo sale. The complaint alleges that the company's Italian cheeses are manufactured in insanitary conditions and that the company's procedures are inadequate to ensure the safety of its products.
According to documents, inspections by the FDA in 2013 showed that Serra Cheese repeatedly introduced adulterated cheese into interstate commerce and caused the cheese to become adulterated while held for sale after shipment. The inspections, which occurred in January and November 2013, resulted in the collection of samples that showed that Listeria innocua was present in numerous locations throughout Serra Cheese's facility. Analysis of other samples showed significant levels of non-pathogenic E. coli in the finished cheese products, indicating exposure of the products, directly or indirectly, to feces.
Furthermore, according to the district court's Oct. 20, 2015, decision, Serra Cheese's own testing, conducted in March 2015, revealed the presence of Listeria spp. at multiple locations in the company's facility, including on its production floor.
The injunction requires Serra Cheese to take specific steps to remedy the violations found by the court. The order says the company has to submit a written plan for sampling and analysis of cheese in its inventory. That plan has to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
A person who answered the phone Monday evening at S. Serra Cheese told The Associated Press the company had no comment on the injunction.
TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
