WARNING LETTER
A TO Z Distributor Inc
MARCS-CMS 722245 —
February 10, 2026
Delivery Method:
Via Email
Product:
Food & Beverages
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Helena Velnes
Recipient Title
Owner
A TO Z Distributor Inc
305 East 88th Street
Brooklyn
,
NY
11236
United States
(b)(6), (b)(7)(C)
Issuing Office:
Office of Inspections and Investigations
United States
02/10/2026
WARNING LETTER
RE: CMS# 722245
Dear Ms. Helena Velnes:
On September 17, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) inspection of A TO Z Distributor Inc. located at 2445 E 65th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234-6717. We also conducted an inspection on July 14, 2021, and February 20, 2025. These inspections were conducted to determine compliance with the requirements of section 805 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 384a) and the implementing FSVP regulation in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L.
The FSVP regulation requires that importers perform certain risk-based activities to verify that human and/or animal food they import into the United States has been produced in a manner that meets applicable U.S. food safety standards. You may find information relating to the FSVP regulation and your responsibilities to comply with the regulation through links in FDA’s FSVP web page at https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-foreign-supplier-verification-programs-fsvp-importers-food-humans-and-animals.
During the most recent inspection, we found that you are not in compliance with the requirements of 21 CFR part 1, subpart L for the foods you import. Because of these significant violations, you are not in compliance with section 805 of the FD&C Act. At the conclusion of the inspection, our investigator provided you with a Form FDA 483a FSVP Observations. We have not received your response to the Form FDA 483a issued on September 17, 2025.
Your significant violations of the FSVP regulation are as follows:
You did not develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP as required by section 805 of the FD&C Act and 21 CFR part 1.502(a). Specifically, you did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following foods:
(b)(4)
Cucumbers In Brine imported from
(b)(4)
, located in
(b)(4)
(b)(4)
Original imported from
(b)(4)
, located in
(b)(4)
Roasted Sesame Seeds imported from
(b)(4)
, located in
(b)(4)
(b)(4)
Spread imported from
(b)(4)
, located in
(b)(4)
The above violations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations of the FSVP requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with section 805 of the FD&C Act and the implementing regulation in 21 CFR part 1, subpart L.
(b)(3)(A)
As a responsible official of a facility that manufactures/processes, packs, or holds food for human or animal consumption in the United States, you are responsible for ensuring that your overall operation and the products you distribute are in compliance with the law.
We request that the owner, operator, or agent in charge of this facility, or an individual authorized by this facility’s owner, operator, or agent in charge, register the facility with FDA within 30 working days of the date of this letter. Food facility registration guidance is available online at https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/registration-food-facilities-and-other-submissions. Registration may be accomplished online at http://www.access.fda.gov. You must submit your registration or registration renewal to FDA electronically, unless FDA has granted you a waiver under 21 CFR 1.245 (21 CFR 1.231(a)(4)).]
This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. If you do not adequately address this matter, we may take further action. For instance, we may take action under section 801(a)(3) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 381(a)(3)) to refuse admission of the food you import for which you appear to be in violation of section 805. We may place the foods you import into the United States on detention without physical examination (DWPE) when you import the foods. You can find DWPE information relating to FSVP in Import Alert # 99-41 at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/ialist.html. In addition, the importation or offering for importation into the United States of an article of food without the importer having an FSVP that meets the requirements of section 805 of the FD&C Act or the FSVP regulation is prohibited under section 301(zz) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 331(zz)).
You should respond in writing within fifteen (15) working days from your receipt of this letter. Your response should address the specific things you are doing to correct any violations. You should include in your response documentation and information that would assist us in evaluating your corrections (e.g., documentation of changes you made, such as a copy of your FSVP, records to demonstrate implementation of your FSVP), and any additional information that you wish to supply relevant to your compliance with the FSVP regulation. If you believe that you are not in violation of the FD&C Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration. If you cannot complete all corrections within 15 working days, you should explain the reason for your delay and state when you will correct any remaining violations.
Please send your reply to Food and Drug Administration, Attention: Jananiga Vanniyasingam, Compliance Officer, Division of Northeast Imports: oiioiodneiwlresponses@fda.hhs.gov. Please also cc (carbon copy) Jananiga.vanniyasingam@fda.hhs.gov. If you have any questions regarding this letter, you may contact Compliance Officer Vanniyasingam via email at Jananiga.vanniyasingam@fda.hhs.gov. Please reference CMS # 722245 on any documents or records you provide to us and on the subject line of any email correspondence you send to us.
Sincerely,
/S/
CDR Joseph S. Tomao
Program Division Director
Division of Northeast Imports
Content current as of:
03/17/2026
Regulated Product(s)
Food & Beverages