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WARNING LETTER

Fidelity Melon, Inc MARCS-CMS 722574 —

Delivery Method:
Via Express Delivery
Product:
Food & Beverages
Recipient:
Recipient Name
Darrin J Wadman
Recipient Title
President
Fidelity Melon, Inc

13 Corporate Plaza Dr Ste 200
Newport Beach, CA 92660-7919
United States

darrin@fidelitymelon.com
Issuing Office:
Office of Inspections and Investigations

United States

January 29, 2026

Re: CMS 722574

Dear Mr. Wadman:

On December 17, 2025, and January 2, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) inspection of FIDELITY MELON, INC, 13 Corporate Plaza Dr Ste 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660-7919. This inspection was 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 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 acknowledge receipt of your response, dated January 17, 2026, in which you stated your firm is familiar with hazards associated with growing, packing, and shipping vine melons to the retail sector and all your growers adhere to guidelines from USDA in the form of (b)(4) certification. You stated you are not currently importing during the 2025/2026 melon season, and you will attain FSVP compliance prior to any future importation. We are unable to evaluate the adequacy of your response because you have not provided any supporting documentation demonstrating your corrective actions. To date, no additional FSVP documents have been received by FDA.

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 1.502(a). Specifically, you did not develop an FSVP for any of the foods you import, including each of the following foods:

  • Cantaloupe, imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)
  • Seedless Watermelon, imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)
  • Seedless Watermelon, imported from (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

During our inspection you provided the following documents:

  • (b)(4) certificate and letter for your foreign supplier (b)(4), located in (b)(4)
  • (b)(4) Letter of Conformance from your foreign supplier (b)(4), located in (b)(4)

You stated that you obtained documentation of (b)(4) certifications from your foreign suppliers, however you did not review the documents and only obtain them for your records as required by your customers. However, it is not clear how these documents would apply to your FSVP program, and you did not explain how they would apply to your FSVP program.

You import fresh produce that may be considered “covered produce” as defined in 21 CFR 112.3. If after review of the fresh produce that you import you determine that you are an importer of covered produce, you must have an FSVP that demonstrates that your supplier is producing the food in compliance with processes and procedures that provide at least the same level of public health protection as those required under section 419 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 350h) (regarding standards for produce safety) and the implementing regulations in the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (21 CFR part 112).

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.

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: Sandra K. Wangen Compliance Officer, Division of West Coast Imports, 934 Broadway, Suite 101, Tacoma, WA 98402; or via email to wcid@fda.hhs.gov, Attention: Sandra K. Wangen, Compliance Officer. If you have any questions regarding this letter, you may contact Sandra K. Wangen via email at sandra.wangen@fda.hhs.gov. Please reference CMS # 722574 on any documents or records you provide to us and/ or within the subject line of any email correspondence you send to us.

Sincerely,
/S/

Dr. Kathleen Turner
Program Division Director
Division of West Coast Imports

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