US-based Lifeway Foods, a major processor of cream cheese and kefir, has been ordered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to close down two of its plants over alleged hygiene and labelling concerns.

The FDA says that executives of both Lifeway and subsidiary LFI Enterprises has agreed to cease production of cream cheese until they comply fully with its safety standards. Despite this, Lifeway is permitted to continue production of its other dairy products such as kefir.
A number of alleged concerns were raised regarding the processing and packaging for certain goods, including labelling and then distributing cream cheese products that failed to specify the presence of any major food allergens, transfat levels and other ingredients as well as failure to document sanitation monitoring.