FDA Seeks Injunction Against Sharkco

Posted on December 1, 2009 in Business/Law, Health & Medicine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seeking a permanent injunction against Louisiana seafood company Sharkco, Inc. because of alleged health safety violations. The injunction is intended to stop Sharkco from distributing scrombotoxin-forming fish in interstate commerce.

Eating scrombotoxin-forming fish that are not properly preserved or refrigerated can result in scromboid food poisioning. Scrombotoxin-forming fish often include mackerel, sardines, bluefish, and mahi mahi, according to officials.

According to the government, Sharkco Seafood and its owners, Khai Nguyen and Tuan Nguyen, violated federal law by failing to establish and implement a plan that protects against food hazards. “FDA repeatedly warned and tried to work with Sharkco,” said Michael Chappell, acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the FDA. “The company had ample time to take corrective action, which it failed to do.”