A consumer complaint initiated The Food and Drug Administration to conduct an investigation of the Family Dollar distribution facility in West Memphis, Arkansas. The investigation began in January 2022 and ended on February 11.
Results of the investigation included live rodents, dead rodents in varying degrees of decay, rodent feces and urine, an indication of gnawing and nesting all through the facility. Dead birds and bird droppings were also found during the investigation. Products stored in this facility were not found in a state that would protect them from contamination.
Judith McMeekin, Pharm.D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs said, “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. We will continue to work to protect consumers.”
Products purchased from January 1, 2021, through now may be unsafe for consumers. States that have been affected by the unsanitary conditions of the distribution facility include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Numerous categories of FDA-regulated products impacted include human foods and dietary supplements, cosmetics, animal foods, medical devices, and over-the-counter medications.
The FDA recommends consumers discard all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and dietary supplements, regardless of packaging. However, food in non-permeable packaging, such as undamaged glass or all-metal cans, may be usable after a thorough cleaning and sanitation.
Contact a health care professional if any health concerns present themselves after handling contaminated products. Rodents have the potential to cause Salmonella and infectious diseases in humans. Those at the greatest risk include infants, children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people.