In a March 29 warning letter, the FDA formally notified Gate Gourmet that the classification of their airline catering facility in Erlanger, Kentucky, USA, has been downgraded from approved to provisional.
Following an FDA inspection of the facility in late 2017, the FDA discovered serious violations Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation, and sections of the Interstate Conveyance Sanitation regulations, which related to the preparation of food in insanitary conditions that may have become “contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.”
The FDA reported it received a “response letter” from Gate Gourmet describing several corrections. However, the FDA noted that inspectors cannot evaluate the adequacy the measures because the firm did not provide evidence to show it is now in compliance.
Food companies are given 15 working days to respond to FDA warning letters.