Hain warned over manufacturing violations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to the Melville-based owner of Celestial Seasonings herbal tea for failing to meet good manufacturing practices in a Boulder, Colo., facility.

Based on inspections in March and April, the agency said in a Dec. 3 letter posted Tuesday on the FDA website the company did not "meet current good manufacturing practice regulations" for its Sleepytime Extra and five other tea products. Regulators also said workers were not properly trained, citing a laboratory technician.

The Hain Celestial Group owns Boulder-based Celestial Seasonings. Calls to spokeswomen at both were not immediately returned Tuesday.

The FDA informed Hain of the violations on April 14. Hain responded on May 4 that it would correct the violations by certain dates, according to the letter. The FDA may seize products or take other enforcement actions if they are not corrected.

The teas cited in the letter are part of the Celestial's line of eight "All-Natural Herbal Wellness Blends": Ginseng Energy, Detox A.M., Echinacea Complete Care, Sleepytime Extra, Sleepytime Throat Tamer and Tummy Mint. For more information, visit fda.gov/ICECI

/EnforcementActions.