U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref | U.S. Department of Justice
The former president and primary owner of Valley Processing Inc. (VPI), a fruit juice manufacturer based in Sunnyside, Washington, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the production and sale of tainted fruit juice products. Mary Ann Bliesner, 83, admitted guilt on two misdemeanor counts under the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The charges include failing to register a food facility with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not preventing VPI's distribution of adulterated grape juice concentrate.
Valley Processing Inc., now closed, also entered a guilty plea for conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded fruit juice into interstate commerce. This includes selling tainted products to customers. Both Bliesner and VPI agreed to pay $742,139 as part of their criminal forfeiture.
In court documents, VPI acknowledged that it distributed potentially unsafe apple and grape juices from October 2012 through June 2019. The company admitted misrepresenting product quality and age by blending old grape juice concentrate stored outside with newer batches. Some contaminated products were sold for use in the National School Lunch Program.
Bliesner and VPI failed to register their "Grape Road Facility" with the FDA, where unsold grape juice was stored in large vats for extended periods without proper covering or cooling. During an FDA inspection in May 2018, caution tape was placed over this facility’s entrance due to safety concerns raised by employees who denied any presence of juice products inside.
Later investigations revealed contamination within these vats including bird feces, rodent droppings, insects, mold, yeast, animal remains, fur contaminants—and even observed a live rat on top of the hardened crust covering the juice concentrate.
Following these findings in November 2020—a civil complaint sought legal action against Bliesner and VPI leading them into a consent injunction by January 2021 barring them from processing or distributing any food without FDA approval; subsequently ceasing operations altogether thereafter.
“Protecting American food supply safety is essential,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M Boynton while emphasizing accountability towards maintaining safe facilities truthfully communicating both customer expectations alongside regulatory requirements like those set forth by federal agencies such as US Department Of Justice which intervened appropriately hereupon uncovering violations involved therein per said official remarks made public recently regarding case status updates provided accordingly too upon request thereof likewise duly noted hereinabove today so far thus far throughout reporting coverage efforts continuing onwards until final sentencing hearing scheduled March next year when judicial determinations reached finally determining penalties imposed eventually later sometime soon thereafter presumably once all facts considered comprehensively enough hopefully fairly judiciously balanced perspective view standpoint insight understanding point being 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