Family Dollar distribution centers in at least six states had a little more than savings on the shelves as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported more than 1,000 rodents were found. Now, the chain has issued a voluntary recall for items bought at hundreds of its stores.
In a press release Friday, the FDA said that a consumer complaint led to officials inspecting a West Memphis, Arkansas, center in January.
When inspectors entered the building, live rodents, rodent feces, dead birds, bird feces, and dead rodents in "various states of decay" were found. In all, after the complex was fumigated, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials reported.
Judith McMeeking, the associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, shared that conditions found in the center were not acceptable.
"No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility," McMeeking said.
Following the discovery, the FDA has been working with Family Dollar to begin a voluntary recall of the products that could have been affected by the infestation.
The products on the list include human food, pet food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, medical devices, and over-the-counter medications purchased in January or February. More than 404 stores were listed in the recall in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Nine of the stores are in Lafayatte, two in Baton Rouge, but none were listed in New Orleans.
Family Dollar released a statement saying it "is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall."
Still, in its statement, Family Dollar shared what customers and stores should do if they have been affected by the recall.
"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 statement said. "Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt."
While some food in non-permeable packaging "may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned," all drugs, medical devices, dietary supplements, and cosmetics should be thrown away, the FDA said.
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