As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are not issued until a company has been given months to years to correct problems.
DingMoo LLC DBA Dingman’s Dairy
Paterson, NJ
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to DingMoo LLC, doing business as Dingman’s Dairy, located in Paterson, NJ, for significant violations of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP). The letter, dated Aug. 7, 2025, follows an inspection conducted from Feb. 7-14, 2025, prompted by a multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to products from one of the company’s foreign suppliers.
The FDA’s findings highlight serious lapses in DingMoo’s compliance with FSVP regulations, which require importers to verify that imported foods meet U.S. safety standards equivalent to domestic requirements. The violations raise concerns about the safety of imported frozen desserts, including Pistachio Tartufo, entering the U.S. market.
Inspection findings
The FDA’s inspection revealed that DingMoo LLC failed to comply with section 805 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the FSVP regulation. The inspection was initiated following a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak tied to products manufactured by a foreign supplier, leading to a Class 1 recall. The FDA placed the supplier’s products on Import Alert #99-19 for Salmonella contamination and all ready-to-eat (RTE) foods from the supplier on Import Alert #99-43 for insanitary conditions.
At the conclusion of the inspection, the FDA issued a Form FDA 483a, FSVP Observations, outlining the violations. DingMoo responded on March 7, 2025, but the FDA found the response inadequate, as it lacked sufficient documentation to demonstrate corrective actions.
Critical violations:
Failure to establish written procedures for supplier approval
DingMoo did not establish or follow written procedures to approve foreign suppliers based on an evaluation of their performance and the risks posed by their foods, as required. The company also failed to document the use of such procedures.
Lack of procedures for verification activities
The company did not establish adequate written procedures for conducting foreign supplier verification activities, as required, for products including frozen desserts and Pistachio Tartufo from multiple foreign suppliers.
No written hazard analysis
DingMoo failed to conduct a written hazard analysis for its imported frozen desserts, including those from two foreign suppliers, to identify biological, chemical, and physical hazards requiring controls, as required. Although the company obtained a hazard analysis for Pistachio Tartufo, it did not document its review or confirm that it was conducted by a qualified individual.
Failure to evaluate supplier performance
The company did not evaluate its foreign suppliers’ performance or the risks posed by their foods, as required, nor did it document supplier approval, as required. DingMoo relied on a foreign distributor for documentation, unaware that the FSVP regulation requires importers to verify the actual manufacturer or processor of the food.
Inadequate supplier verification activities
DingMoo did not determine or document appropriate verification activities or their frequency, as required. The company provided documents, such as Safety Food Certificates and third-party audit certificates, but these were dated after importation began and did not demonstrate compliance with FDA regulations. Additionally, third-party audits did not assess compliance with FDA food safety standards or review suppliers’ food safety plans, as required.
Company response
In its March 7, 2025, response, DingMoo provided documents, including a “Food Safety Certificate” and a “Manufacturer’s Declaration” for one supplier, stating microbiological hazards like Salmonella were addressed. The company also paused imports from one supplier while pursuing FSVP training and indicated it may cease importing if a stronger program cannot be implemented. However, the FDA found the response inadequate, as it lacked evidence of supplier reevaluation, hazard analysis documentation, or compliance with FDA regulations.
FDA’s concerns and next steps
The FDA emphasized that DingMoo’s failure to comply with FSVP regulations could allow unsafe food to enter the U.S. market, as evidenced by the Salmonella outbreak. Continued noncompliance may lead to refusal of admission for implicated products, detention without physical examination under Import Alert #99-41, or other regulatory actions. Importing food without a compliant FSVP is a prohibited act under federal law.
DingMoo has 15 working days from receipt of the warning letter to respond with specific corrective actions and supporting documentation. The FDA will assess the adequacy of these actions in future inspections.
The full warning letter can be viewed here.
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