Family Dollar temporarily closes over 400 stores due to rat and bird infestation

The FDA has issued a public advisory that “FDA-regulated products purchased from January 1, 2021, through the present from Family Dollar stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee may be unsafe for consumers to use.

In January of 2022, the FDA began its investigation of Family Dollar after a consumer complaint. The investigation concluded on February 11, 2022. The FDA issued a public advisory a week later and revealed that its investigation uncovered “live rodents, dead rodents in various states of decay, rodent feces and urine, evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors throughout the facility, dead birds and bird droppings, and products stored in conditions that did not protect against contamination.”

The FDA report further states that “more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered from the facility following a fumigation at the facility in January 2022. 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.”

The FDA explains 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.”

Family Dollar voluntarily recalled items from over 400 of its impacted stores in the southern part of the United States upon the FDA’s announcement. Days later, the discount company temporarily closed those stores.

The FDA advised that “all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and dietary supplements, regardless of packaging, be discarded. Food in non-permeable packaging (such as undamaged glass or all-metal cans) may be suitable for use if thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Consumers should wash their hands immediately after handling any products from the affected Family Dollar stores.”

Customers who believe that they’ve purchased. Affected items are able to return the items to the stores without receipt. Because of store closures and the possibility that stores may not accept possibly-contaminated returns, be sure to contact the store beforehand to inquire about the process of receiving a refund.