FDA Removes 1,100 Dead Rodents From Arkansas Family Dollar Facility
Associated Press
February 19, 2022
Area: Memphis
WEST MEMPHIS, Arkansas - More than 1,000 rodents were found inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas, the US Food and Drug Administration said on Friday as the chain issued a voluntary recall on items purchased from hundreds of stores across the US south.
A consumer complaint had prompted officials to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, facility in January, the FDA said.
Inspectors had found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay”, rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings. After fumigating the facility, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said.
“No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility,” said Judith McMeekin, associate FDA commissioner for regulatory affairs.
The FDA said it was working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of affected products including human food, pet food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices and over-the-counter medications purchased in January or February from stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Tennessee.
The company said it was “not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall”. Nonetheless, it listed 404 stores that might have sold products from the contaminated facility.
The FDA said food in non-permeable packaging “may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned”.
Regardless of packaging, all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements should be thrown away, officials said.
“Family Dollar is notifying its affected stores by letter asking them to check their stock immediately and to quarantine and discontinue the sale of any affected product,” the company said.
“Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt.”
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