FDA Files Complaint Against New York Beverage Company

New York, NY (WIBX) - The Food and Drug Administration filed a complaint against a New York based beverage company to stop it from processing and distributing juice and other products.

The FDA said Mystical One Juice Company violated manufacturing practices that aims to prevent sources of possible food and water contamination. Spokesperson for the FDA, Doug karas said, "The FDA requested that the Department of Justice file a complaint to stop Mystical One Juice Company from processing and distributing its juice products. The reason that we asked for this complaint was that in a Fall investigation of the company we found numerous violations."

Some of the violations the FDA listed include failing to, "adequately heat low-acid vegetable juices to destroy or prevent growth of dangerous microorganisms; properly clean food-contact surfaces; and maintain and monitor sanitation conditions at the manufacturing facility to prevent sources of possible food and water contamination."

Karas said some of the conditions the FDA found at Mystical One Juice Company, based in Jamaica, NY, can lead to the formulation of Botulism bacteria--a serious illness that even injested in small amounts, can cause paralysis, difficulty in breathing and death due to asphyxiation. Karas said in 2006, six cases of Botulism in the U.S. and Canada were linked to refrigerated carrot juice, which Mystical One processes.

The products the FDA listed are:

Fresh Carrot Juice
Magnum Food Drink
Pineapple Ginger Drink
Sorrel & Ginger
Sea Moss
Peanut Punch

Karas said the FDA has no evidence that there's contaminated products out on store shelves however he said, "We want customers to know that we have serious concerns about Mystical One's manufacturing processes. They don't meet our health standards and we want people to know that, so they can make their own decisions as to whether or not to buy, and or drink these drinks."

Mystical One, LLC distributes its products primarily in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The FDA charged the company with violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for its failure to have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan, (HACCP) for the juice drinks listed above. The agency also charged the company for not complying with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).

The link to view the advisory from the FDA is: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm239965.htm. And to view the products the FDA listed go to: www.mysticalonejuice.com/products/.