PepsiCo has been issued a warning letter by the US Food and Drug Administration over "serious violations" at its Tennessee Frito-Lay factory.

The letter from the FDA, dated 4 August, revealed violations of FDA's requirements on manufacturing, packing, or holding human food.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

According to the letter, the plant had a leaking roof which "often directly over exposed product in the facility", broken pipes and chocolate chip cookie dough was observed leaking from a pinch point on the dough hopper.

"Your plant and facility must be constructed in such a manner that floors, walls, and ceilings may be adequately cleaned and kept clean and kept in good repair; that drip or condensate from fixtures, ducts, and pipes does not contaminate food, food contact surfaces, or food packaging materials," the FDA said in its letter.

The FDA warned it would take further action if PepsiCo did not "promptly correct" these violations, including seizing product and/or enjoin the firm from operating.

According to Bloomberg which quoted a spokesman for Frito-Lay, the company was "surprised" to receive the warning letter.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

PepsiCo was unavailable for comment to just-food at time of press.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact