US condiments maker Hampton Creek has contacted Target in a bid to get its products restocked at the local retail giant after securing backing from the country’s food safety regulator its products are safe.
In June, Target has pulled all the Hampton Creek products it stocked in response to food safety allegations. The retailer said it had received allegations of pathogens being found at Hampton Creek’s San-Francisco based manufacturing facilities.
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Speaking to just-food yesterday (8 August), Hampton Creek said its products had subsequently secured the all-clear from the US Food and Drug Administration.
“More than a month ago, Target was led to believe that several of our products were mislabeled or unsafe. We’ve remained confident that our products were safe and properly labeled, and that when presented with the facts, the FDA would agree. As expected, they have. They informed us, after reviewing applicable evidence, that the matter is closed,” Hampton Creek said.
Target received allegations some of the start-up’s products had tested positive for salmonella and listeria. There have also been concerns over the incorrect labelling of ingredients and whether or not the food includes genetically modified organisms.
The retailer, which according to Bloomberg is Hampton Creek’s biggest stockist, generating around a third of the company’s retail sales, has not confirmed any of the allegations nor their source and is not aware of anyone becoming ill as a result of eating the products. However, Target tipped off the US Food and Drug Administration.
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By GlobalDataHampton Creek added: “We’ve reached out to Target to determine the steps needed to get back on shelves and restore our partnership. We’re thankful to the millions of consumers and growing number of partners who continue to support our mission to build a food system where everyone is eating well.”
The privately-owned maker of Just Mayo egg-free mayo has had a tumultuous few quarters. Last month, it emerged co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick was the only remaining board member at the company following a raft of resignations.
All four of the remaining outside directors of the San Francisco food-tech firm have departed in recent weeks leaving the founder of the company behind Just Mayo in sole control.
Some six outside board members have quit since last year, including a representative of investment firm Horizon Ventures.
Last year, Hampton Creek was embroiled in controversy after US regulators launched an investigation into the practice of using company money to buy back some of its products from retail stores. The company has since said that the investigation has been dropped without action.
