Federal concerns about the operation of food processing equipment inside Castleberry's Food Co. prompted this week's shutdown of the Augusta chili maker.
Most of the plant's 330 employees did not report to work Monday because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the company's temporary operating permit.
That permit was issued in September in the aftermath of a last summer's $35 million botulism recall.
An FDA spokeswoman said the permit was revoked because inspectors found "deviations" in how some of the processing equipment was being operated.
"The deviations could have caused the food processed to be unsafe. Because under-processing by Castleberry in the past resulted in a botulism outbreak and because Castleberry was operating under an emergency permit, FDA revoked the emergency permit," said agency spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek.
Castleberry's officials emphasized Monday that the current shutdown does not involve a new recall.
"We expect to have a quick resolution," said Dave Melbourne, Castleberry's senior vice president.
"We are working quickly and closely with the FDA to answer its questions and hope to resume production as soon as we've addressed them."
Salaried employees and about 50 hourly workers continue to work at the plant, Mr. Melbourne said.
Employees were notified by phone over the weekend of the decision to stop production, he said, and should be getting regular updates.
Employees who are not working "are being encouraged to use accrued vacation time for the rest of this work week for which they will be paid," Mr. Melbourne said.
Reach Tim Rausch at (706) 823-3352 or timothy.rausch@augustachronicle.com.
THE IMPACT:
BACKGROUND: Botulism found in processed food prompted a recall of more than 90 products and idled Castleberry's Food Co.'s 15th Street plant in July. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight people in Ohio, Texas and Indiana became ill.
DEVELOPMENTS:
- In September, the Food and Drug Administration issued the plant a temporary work permit.
- On Monday, the FDA revoked the permit, citing "deviations" in how some equipment was being operated. Many of the 330 employees were told not report to work.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The company has three days to appeal.
Connors Bros. Income Fund, which owns the company, lost more than $35 million from the July recall. It is evaluating selling off its meat division.
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