Armed federal agents seize Valley Milk adulterated products

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that nearly than four million pounds of produce by Valley Milk Products (Valley Milk) of Strasburg, Virginia, have been seized by the US Marshals Service.

Valley Milk is owned by the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association in Reston, Virginia.

Worth nearly $4m, seized products include dry non-fat milk powder and buttermilk powder packaged in 40lb and 50lb bags for further manufacturing.

On behalf of the FDA, the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) has filed the complaint in the US District Court for the Virginia Western District, claiming that the seized products are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA regulatory affairs associate commissioner Melinda Plaisier said: “The FDA urged Valley Milk to conduct a voluntary recall of the implicated products.

“The firm refused to recall and, as a result, we have had to intervene and seize this adulterated food to prevent it from reaching consumers who could be exposed to salmonella from these products.”

Earlier this year, FDA conducted inspection at Valley Milk, where the investigators observed poor sanitary practices and reviewed the company’s records, which showed positive results for salmonella in the plant’s internal environmental and finished product samples.