The Family Dollar Store pays $41.675 million for having a rodent-infested warehouse and holding consuming products under insanitary conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This is the largest ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety matter. Family Dollar was charged with one misdemeanor count of causing FDA regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions. The plea agreement requires the company and Dollar Tree. Inc. to meet robust corporate compliance and reporting requirements for the next three years. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney presided over the company's guilty plea and sentencing at the hearing. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said in a statement, "When consumers go to the … [Read more...]
Inmar Supply Chain Solutions Recalls Pet and Human Food
Inmar Supply Chain Solutions is recalling "numerous brand names" of pet and human food because of poor conditions at the facility. These products were stored in pallets at the company's Arlington, Texas facility between May 1 2022 and June 30, 2023. The company has not received any adverse event reports in connection to this issue. At that time, there may have been a pest control problem at the facility, in the form of rodent infestation. This poses a health risk for many illnesses, including Salmonella. Salmonella infections are especially dangerous for infants, young children, elderly people, anyone who is pregnant, those with weakened immune systems, and anyone with a chronic health condition. In addition, the recent very hot weather may have exposed these products to … [Read more...]
C&E Farms Romaine Lettuce Recalled For Rodent Droppings
C&E Farms Romaine Lettuce is being recalled because it may be contaminated with rodent droppings. Because this recall was posted don the FDA's Enforcement page, there is no mention about whether any illnesses have been reported to the company to date. The recalling firm is C&E Farms of Oxnard, California. The lettuce was distribute din Massachusetts and Minnesota at the retail level. The recalled product is C&E Farms romaine lettuce that is packed in bulk 45 pound mini bins. The code on the product is Tierrasol 23-26R08. About 2500 mini bins are included in this recall. Rodent droppings can contain Salmonella bacteria, Leptospira, and Hantavirus and can make you very sick. Romaine lettuce is eaten without being heated (a kill step), so the pathogens are not destroyed … [Read more...]
Family Dollar Warehouse Rat Infestation Prompts Recall
A Family Dollar warehouse rat infestation has prompted the voluntary recall of many products that are regulated by the FDA. The products were shipped to 404 stores in the southern United States from the Family Dollar Distribution Center 202 in West Memphis, Arkansas from January 1, 2021 through the present date. There are many hazards associated with rats and rodent infestation, including the potential presence of Salmonella bacteria. The affected products include "numerous human food, animal (pet) food, medical devices, and drug products," according to the recall notice. To date, Family Dollar is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness that are related to this recall. The products covered by the recall include all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary … [Read more...]
FDA Seized Spices at Lyden Spice Corp. in Florida for Insanitary Conditions
The FDA seized spices at Lyden Spice Corporation in Florida for being held under insanitary conditions, according to a news release. The U.S. Marshals Service conducted the seizure of the spices and food additive products, which were allegedly exposed to widespread rodent infestation along with live and dead insects. The seizure was completed on October 1, 2021 at Lyden Spice Corporation in Miami, Florida. The products include more than 25,000 boxes and bags of bulk ready-to-eat spices and food additives, and included monosodium glutamate, crushed red chili, and sesame seeds. Janet Woodcock, M.D., Acting FDA Commissioner, said in a statement, The FDA plays a critical role in safeguarding the U.S. food supply and helping to ensure that our food is not contaminated at any point … [Read more...]
Gourmet Catering to Go Warning Letter Details Roaches, Rodents, and Mold
The FDA has sent the company Gourmet Catering to Go a warning letter detailing the violations of Good Manufacturing Practice after an inspection in September and October 2019. That facility is located at 801 Hanger Lane in Nashville, Tennessee. Inspectors found mold, rodent excreta pellets, and dead cockroaches at the facility. The company makes ready to eat meals and food for the airline industry. Based on the FDA's findings, the ready to eat products made in that facility are adulterated "because they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth or whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health." The FDA issued a Form-483 listing all of the deviations that were uncovered during the inspection. Gourmet … [Read more...]
Oregon Food Bank Recalls Chia Seeds for Potential Rodent Dropping Contamination
Oregon Food Bank of Portland, Oregon is recalling 22,201 pounds of chia seeds that were donated to the food bank, because they may be contaminated with rodent droppings. No known illnesses are associated with this product, but the use or consumption of the seeds could present a health hazard. The chia seeds were distributed in Oregon and Clark County, Washington through the Oregon Food Bank Network. The product is packaged in one pound plastic poly film bags with a twist-type closure or a re-sealeable pouch. All of the seeds distributed in that type of packaging between November 1, 2017 and March 9, 2018 are part of this recall. This issue was discovered through a consumer complaint of finding foreign material in the product. The product still in inventory at Oregon Food Bank was … [Read more...]
Bakersfield Arby’s on Rosedale Closed for Rodent Infestation
Kern County officials have closed an Arby's outlet at 8920 Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield, California for rodent infestation. The restaurant received a score of 69%, which is a failing grade, for poor food handling practices and overall poor food establishment maintenance and sanitation. A complaint from the public triggered the latest inspection. The environmental health permit is suspended and a notice of closure is posted until the permit is reestablished. The restaurant must have a score of at least 80% before it can reopen. The inspection that forced the closure took place on June 29, 2016. The major violation is "Severe vermin infestation." Inspectors observed rodent droppings on the floor and boxes of soda syrup and other food related equipment in the dried storage area. … [Read more...]
Senator Schumer Wants FDA to Crack Down on Unsanitary Warehouses
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on the FDA this week, asking for more inspections on food warehouses. Last year the FDA found "squalid" conditions in 90 warehouses that hold food that is shipped to consumers. In a press release, Schumer said, "at the end of 2014, the FDA quietly revealed hundreds of food safety violations at food processing facilities over the course of the year, and everyone from restaurant-goers to owners are appalled by some of the disgusting conditions at warehouses that supply our food. Reports of the filthy conditions at some of these warehouses sound like a page straight out of Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'." Some of the issues in those warehouses were dead and alive rats and birds, and rodent feces next to the food. The FDA inspects "high risk" facilities … [Read more...]
U.S. Marshals Seize Food From Two Virginia Facilities
U.S. Marshals have seized food from Gourmet Provisions, LLC and Royal Cup, Inc. after FDA inspectors found "widespread and active rodent and insect infestation" at those facilities. Warrants were issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Inspectors found the rodents and insects, along with unclean equipment and structural defects at the most recent inspection. Management had not taken steps to exclude insects and rodents from the facility and to protect foods and contact surfaces from contamination. Melinda K. Plaisier, the FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs said in a statement, "these companies have a responsibility for the safety and quality of their products. When firms do not uphold this responsibility, the FDA will take … [Read more...]
