FDA Seizes $1.5 Million Worth of Food From ‘Filthy’ Storage Facility

The Food and Drug Administration says federal agents have seized more than $1.5 million worth of herbs, botanicals, and other ingredients used in dietary supplements that were being stored in “filthy” conditions.

U.S. Marshals, acting at the direction of the FDA, targeted the American Mercantile Corporation of Memphis, Tenn. An FDA inspection of the facility in March 2009 uncovered evidence of widespread insect and rodent infestation throughout the warehouse. When the company failed to clean up the mess on its own and comply with FDA orders regarding the cleanliness of the facility, the food stored there was seized under a warrant issued by the United States District Court.

“(The) FDA will not tolerate a company’s failure to adequately control and prevent filth in its facility,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “The FDA is prepared to use whatever legal means are necessary and appropriate to keep potentially contaminated products out of the marketplace.”

Dietary Supplement and Herbal Tea Ingredients Seized

American Mercantile Corp. stores and processes food ingredients used in dietary supplements and herbal teas made by other companies, the FDA said. The products seized include sarsaparilla, spearmint leaves, cornstarch, sweet orange peels powder, licorice powder, sassafras, and salt.

While the FDA has received no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products, unsanitary conditions at food processing plants have been blamed for deadly outbreaks of foodborne bacteria before.

In 2008 and 2009, a deadly outbreak of salmonella in peanuts, peanut butter, and other peanut food products was traced back to dirty conditions at processing plants in Georgia and Texas. The facilities, operated by Peanut Corporation of America, were later shut down after the FDA and other food-safety officials detected bird and rodent infestation, among other problems, at the plants.

That outbreak of salmonella led to at least nine deaths, about 600 illnesses, and one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history, involving some 3,200 products. The FDA was criticized for failing to adequately inspect the peanut facilities and for allowing contaminated food to reach consumers.

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