The U.S Food and Drug Administration issued a warning after discovering over 1,000 rodents inside an Arkansas facility, revealing a history of infestation.
Consumers are warned of potentially contaminated food, lipstick, and other products from Family Dollar stores in six southern states following a major rodent infestation at one of its distribution centers.
Following a consumer complaint in January, the FDA began an investigation of the Family Dollar distribution facility in West Memphis, Arkansas. An inspection team arrived on-site and found live and dead rodents in various stages of decay, rodent feces and urine, "evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors," dead birds and bird droppings were found inside a Family Dollar distribution center, according to the FDA in a statement.
More than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered from the facility following fumigation at the facility. Additionally, a review of the company’s internal records also indicated the collection of more than 2,300 rodents between Mar. 29 and Sep. 17, 2021, demonstrating a history of infestation, according to the FDA.
​​"No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility. These conditions appear to be violations of federal law that could put families’ health at risk," Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, Judith McMeekin, said in a statement.
The alert covers FDA-regulated products sold at Family Dollar stores such as human foods (including dietary supplements (vitamin, herbal, and mineral supplements)), cosmetics (skincare products, baby oils, lipsticks, shampoos, baby wipes), animal foods (kibble, pet treats, wild bird seed), medical devices (feminine hygiene products, surgical masks, contact lens cleaning solutions, bandages, nasal care products) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications (pain medications, eye drops, dental products, antacids, other medications for both adults and children).
The FDA urges consumers to not use any products if they were purchased after Jan.1, 2021, and to contact the company regarding impacted products.
The FDA said that rodent contamination may cause salmonella and infectious diseases, which may pose the greatest risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised people.
Products that originated from the distribution center were sold at over 400 Family Dollar stores in six southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
According to the FDA, it is working with Family Dollar to create a recall list and a website for more information.
