Family dollar closed more than 400 stores last month after more than 1,000 rodents were found dead in one of its distribution facilities. Details of the infestation now come to light in a 22-page FDA inspection report that cited problems ranging from “four rat carcasses on the conveyor belt” to “too many rodent droppings”. count “.
Several products sold at six-state Family Dollar stores were voluntarily withdrawn, the Food and Drug Administration said last month. On Wednesday, Family Dollar’s parent company, Dollar Tree, said the removal of products and the closure of stores cost $ 34 million. He also revealed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange presentation that he faces several proposed class action lawsuits for infestation and withdrawals.
The FDA report noted that the company was aware of the presence of rodents at facilities in West Memphis, Arkansas, at least since January 2020. In October 2021, a fire drill sent “dozens of rats” to be corrected for installation due to loud sound. , said the agency.
In an email, a Dollar Tree spokeswoman said the company takes “this very seriously and [is] “We have been cooperating fully with all regulatory agencies in resolving this issue and are in the process of resolving the issue.”
The FDA confirmed the authenticity of the inspection report.
“excrete pellets”
Installation problems could hurt Family Dollar’s reputation among consumers, retail expert Neil Saunders, CEO of GlobalData, said in a report.
“We think the situation is worrying, as we believe it points to a broader oversight in the Family Dollar operation and a willingness to cut corners,” Saunders wrote. “While no one expects a dollar store to be palatine, consumers rightly want basic hygiene and safety standards to be met.”
Problems encountered by FDA inspectors at the facility include:
- Both live rodents and “dead rodents from various decomposition states” through the facility, including where the food was stored.
- “A mouse carcass on a pallet” containing escalope potatoes with Hungry Jack cheese.
- Numerous “rodent excrete pellets” found in multiple food pallets, including products such as Knorr Chicken Flavor Rice & Pasta Blend, Knorr Pasta Alfredo, Graffity Taffy, Chestnut Hill Self-Rising Flour, BiGS Taco Supreme Flavored Seeds and Jell-O brand Instant Chocolate Jelly.
- “Multiple (not less than 5) rats climbing scaffolding and through a pallet containing chips.”
- Many products that were gnawed by rodents, such as the Italian Pistachio and Vanilla Duo Spread tubs, which had “gnaw holes”.
- Some pet food products also had signs of rodents, with dog food bags and cats with rodent holes.
- Rodent feces were also found in personal care items such as Crest toothpaste and Listerine mouthwash.
The FDA report noted that the company did not have a system in place to track reports from its stores that received contaminated products from the distribution center. He also noted that one store received a box with a “big live rat” inside.
Dollar Tree said the distribution center is still open but operating at “limited capacity.” At the same time, it is gradually reopening the shops that it closed due to problems with the installation, but at the moment it does not have opening hours, the spokeswoman said.
“The facility does not currently ship FDA-regulated products, such as packaged food for humans and animals (pets), pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, medical devices and cosmetics,” the spokeswoman said. “We are working on a repair plan.”
- In:
- Product withdrawal
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