The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a permanent injunction against Totally Cool Inc., a Maryland-based ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturer, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ruling also includes the company’s CEO and owner, Michael J. Uhlfelder.
The action follows an inspection on July 8, 2024, that revealed Listeria monocytogenes contamination at the firm’s production facility, as well as significant violations of food safety protocols. These violations included inadequate sanitation practices for employees and equipment, breaching the current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) required for food safety.
As part of the decree, the company and Uhlfelder are prohibited from receiving, preparing, processing, packing, holding, or distributing any food products until they comply with specific regulatory requirements set by the FDA.
Totally Cool Inc. had already filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2024. However, the FDA’s request for the injunction emphasized the ongoing concerns over unsanitary conditions at the company’s Baltimore, MD, facility. The company was forced to recall over 60 products distributed across 13 states in 2024 after Listeria monocytogenes was found on a production line.
The FDA’s request for a permanent injunction pointed to a history of repeated violations, including faulty protocols and persistent contamination from a strain of listeria that was believed to have been present at the facility since 2017.
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