According to documents reviewed by Food Safety News, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially sought access to Dixie Dew’s manufacturing facilities in March. However, company representatives denied them entry, prompting the FDA to issue a formal demand for the manufacturer to provide facility records and allow inspectors inside. Upon inspection, the inspectors noted numerous violations, including malfunctioning temperature controls, an infestation of flies and larvae, liquid dripping from the ceiling onto production areas, and food-making equipment stored on unsanitary floors. Testimonies from supervisors revealed that production machines had not been cleaned since 2015 and some equipment had been out of order for 15 years.
The outbreak associated with contaminated soy paste produced by Dixie Dew has resulted in 29 reported illnesses across twelve states. Following the inspection, SoyNut Butter Co., which incorporated the paste in its I.M. Healthy soy nut butters and certain granola products, issued a recall that has since been expanded twice. These products were distributed to retail stores, schools, and daycare centers, but the FDA has not disclosed which locations sold or distributed them. Additionally, the agency only identified Dixie Dew as the manufacturer of the contaminated soy paste after being pressured by Seattle law firm Marler Clark, which included the company in a civil lawsuit.
Unlike other food safety agencies, such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which openly name retailers and manufacturers in their recall announcements, the FDA has refrained from doing so. The agency claims it is adhering to a law that protects trade secrets from disclosure. While revealing sales and distribution information might negatively impact businesses, critics argue that the FDA’s interpretation of the law is overly complicated and that public safety should take precedence over business interests. Richard Raymond, former undersecretary of agriculture for food safety under President George W. Bush, suggested that the FDA has succumbed to pressure from the food industry. “I suspect they don’t want that fight themselves,” he told The Washington Post.
As a result, consumers remain uninformed and can only hope that manufacturers will be proactive in notifying them if they have purchased contaminated products. Retailers and manufacturers undoubtedly aim to ensure their products are safe, yet any lack of transparency can damage their reputations at a time when consumers are increasingly demanding clear information. This situation also poses a significant risk to public health.
It is perplexing how the conditions at Dixie Dew could deteriorate to such an extent and persist for so long. In recent years, food safety standards have seen substantial enhancements. Inspectors have been more vigilant regarding plant conditions following the salmonella outbreak that resulted in nine fatalities and lengthy prison sentences for executives at the Peanut Corporation of America, as well as a major listeria outbreak that prompted new testing protocols at Blue Bell. Given that Dixie Dew was already on the FDA’s radar, it is unclear why the facility was not subject to further inspections.
Moreover, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which is being implemented across the industry, mandates rigorous testing and quality control measures. Although Dixie Dew may not yet be required to comply with FSMA’s preventative controls due to its size, the manufacturer should have been actively working towards meeting the new standards, which are so stringent that products are frequently recalled even before any illnesses are reported. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of transparency and adherence to safety regulations remains paramount, especially in the wake of incidents involving products like Citracal citrate, which underscore the critical nature of food safety in protecting public health.