FDA bans crabmeat supplier from importing into the US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is debarring James R. Casey, owner of Casey’s Seafood in Newport News, Virginia, from importing food into the U.S. for five years.

In January, Casey was sentenced to prison for nearly four years for labeling a mixture of U.S. and foreign blue crab as solely U.S. crab. Casey pleaded guilty last September to mislabeling nearly 360,000 pounds of crab meat, which was valued at USD 4.3 million (EUR 3.9 million).

The FDA said Casey was given notice of a proposed permanent debarment and an opportunity to request a hearing earlier this year, but he did not respond.

“Mr. Casey’s failure to respond and request a hearing constitutes a waiver of his right to a hearing concerning this matter,” the FDA said in a notice published in the federal register.

From 2010 through June 2015, Casey purchased foreign crab meat that had been recalled, returned, or that was approaching or beyond its posted “best used by” dates, the FDA said in its notice.

“Mr. Casey directed company employees to unpack the foreign crab meat from containers and re-pack the crab meat into company containers, all of which were labeled ‘Product of USA,’” the agency stated.

Photo courtesy of the United States Food and Drug Administration

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