U.S. Marshals seize food products from rodent-infested warehouse in NY, FDA reports

FDA: U.S. Marshals seize food at New York-based food facility

Agency acts to prevent food distribution from rodent-infested warehouse

U.S. Marshals have seized food products at a Ridgewood, N.Y. warehouse that manufactures and distributes kosher food products, after investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found widespread rodent infestation in the facility.

The FDA initiated the seizure of various food products in the manufacturing facility and warehouse operated by V.I.P. Foods Inc., on April 12, 2013, under a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

During an inspection in late February 2013, FDA investigators found unsanitary conditions throughout the facility in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The conditions included live rodents, a dead, desiccated rodent, and what appeared to be rodent tracks, rodent gnaw holes, and rodent excreta pellets in or near food products.

"V.I.P. Foods housed various dried mixes and bases, such as chicken soup base, blueberry muffin mix and bread crumbs; and the conditions inside this warehouse were just deplorable," said Melinda K. Plaisier, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "We will continue to take aggressive action to protect public health."

Some of V.I.P. Foods products are distributed under the name VIP Foods Inc., VIP, V.I.P., or KoJel, but V.I.P. Foods distributes other products under private label.

To date, no illnesses have been associated with V.I.P. Foods products.