Portland Shellfish barred from shipping seafood
A Portland seafood processing company that was temporarily shut down for health violations has agreed to stop shipping its pre-cooked seafood products to other states.
Portland Shellfish was ordered two weeks ago by a federal court to halt operations because of unsanitary conditions and repeated violations of federal health safety laws. Yesterday, the company signed a consent decree that prohibits them from selling its ready-to-eat lobster, shrimp and crab products across state lines, according to a press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A 2010 inspection of the company's facilities found the presence of a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenese, even after Portland Shellfish issued four recalls in the past two years for possible contamination.
The company, which has facilities in Portland and South Portland, sells to retailers in a handful of states including Massachusetts, California, Georgia and Louisiana. The company is barred from interstate shipping until the FDA approves in writing its sanitation plans to prevent future contamination, according to the release. The FDA also has the right to order another shutdown or other action for future violations, and requires Portland Shellfish to pay for inspections.
Portland Shellfish President and founder Jeffrey Holden told the Portland Press Herald the company has resumed processing operations.
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