Tyson Foods Warned About Seafood Storage

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Inspectors found unsanitary conditions at a Tyson Foods plant in Forth Worth, Tex., that makes seafood soups, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning letter sent to the company and posted on the agency's Web site.

The FDA said fish and crab at the plant were stored at dangerously high temperatures -- between 40 and 55 degrees F for about 18 hours -- but should be stored below 40 degrees F to prevent the growth of bacteria and toxins, the Associated Press reported.

"Pathogen growth and potential toxin formulation is a hazard reasonably likely to occur in the absence of (temperature) control, consequently, the hazard needs to be addressed," said the FDA warning letter.

Since the inspection, Tyson has updated its temperature control plan, the AP reported.

The fish and crab noted by FDA inspectors wasn't used in company products, according to Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson. "Our Forth Worth plant is clean and sanitary, and the products produced there are safe to eat," he said in a statement.