Family Dollar to pay more than $41M fine over rat-infested warehouse

Family Dollar Stores LLC pleaded guilty Monday to storing FDA-regulated products in “unsanitary conditions” in a rodent-infested warehouse in Arkansas, the Justice Department announced Monday.

Family Dollar, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree, entered into a plea agreement in which the company agreed to pay a total of $41,675,000 in fines and forfeiture, according to the Department of Justice. This is the highest criminal penalty ever for a food safety lawsuit. .

The company will also be required to “meet rigorous corporate compliance and reporting requirements” for three years. The company pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge.

“When consumers go to the store, they have the right to expect that the food and medicines on the shelves will be kept clean and uncontaminated,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said in a press release. .

The products stored in poor conditions included food, medicine, medical equipment and cosmetics, according to the Justice Department. A distribution center in the rodent-infested state of Arkansas shipped product to 404 stores in six states: Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

Family Dollar pled guilty and said authorities began receiving reports of rodent infestations in August 2020 and knew the warehouse was shipping rodents and products damaged by rodents. admitted that. The company said that by January 2021, some employees realized that unsanitary conditions were causing adulteration in FDA products.

The warehouse continued to ship product until January 2022, when an FDA inspection revealed that it contained “live rodents, dead rodents, decomposing rodents, rodent feces, urine, odor, It was discovered that there was evidence of gnawing holes throughout the facility.

As of January 1, 2021, the company has removed FDA-regulated products from 404 stores operated by rodent-infested warehouses after warehouse fumigation “reportedly eliminated 1,270 rodents.” were all collected.

“Family Dollar knew of rodent and pest problems at its Arkansas distribution center and continued to ship unsafe and unsanitary products,” Jonathan Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, said in a statement. I don’t understand it.”

“Intentionally selling these types of products not only endangers public health, but also undermines consumer confidence in the products they purchase. The products shipped and sold are safe for consumers. “Something is required, and the safety of Arkansans and others is extremely important to this office,” he continued. “Let me be clear: If you do business in Arkansas and allow dangerous and unsanitary products to be shipped or sold, you will be held accountable.”