More than 400 stores across six states, including Louisiana had to close its doors to handle a rodent infestation this week and a recall of several items.
On Friday, February 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced more than 1,000 rodents were found inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas that served stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
At the same time, the store chain announced a voluntary recall affecting items purchased from the hundreds of stores across these states between January 1, 2021, through this year.
A store spokesperson said they were taking issues like this very serious and were committed to protecting their customers.
Items included in the recall range from over-the-counter medications, medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, human food and pet food. The FDA expanded on that list by giving examples including human foods, dietary supplements (vitamin, herbal and mineral supplements), cosmetics (skincare products, baby oils, lipsticks, shampoos, baby wipes), animal foods (kibble, pet treats, wild bird seed), medical devices (feminine hygiene products, surgical masks, contact lens cleaning solutions, bandages, nasal care products) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications (pain medications, eye drops, dental products, antacids, other medications for both adults and children).
Customers that may have purchased affected products can return the items to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without a receipt, according to information released by the company. Officials also notified affected stores and asked them to discontinue the sale of any affected product.
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.
The “recall does not apply to products shipped directly to the stores by the distributor or manufacturer, such as all frozen and refrigerated items,” according to a company spokesperson. The recall also applies to the 404 stores on the company’s list and not other locations.
A consumer complaint prompted officials from the FDA to inspect the West Memphis, Arkansas, distribution center in January. Inside the building, inspectors said they found live rodents, dead rodents in “various states of decay,” rodent feces, dead birds and bird droppings.
Family Dollar ceased distribution of products within days of the FDA inspection team’s arrival on-site and the inspection concluded on Feb. 11. After fumigating the complex, more than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered, officials said. Additionally, a review of the company’s internal records also indicated the collection of more than 2,300 rodents between March 29, and September 17, 2021, demonstrating a history of infestation.
Consumers who recently purchased affected products should contact a health care professional immediately if they have health concerns after using or handling impacted products. Rodent contamination may cause Salmonella and infectious diseases, which may pose the greatest risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people.
Stores in Louisiana include in:
•Alexandria (232 Bolton Ave. and 2501 3rd St.), Arcadia (1801 Hazel St.), Arnaudville (1022 Coteau Rodaire Highway),
•Baker (810 Main St.), Bastrop (542 N Washington St. and 1714 E Madison Ave.), Baton Rouge (8027 Scenic Highway and 6910 Mickens Road), Bernice (60 West 4th St.), Breaux Bridge (904 Rees St. Suite B, P.O. Box 308, 3047 Grand Point Highway and 1802 Anse Broussard Highway), Bunkie: 816 NW Main St.),
•Calhoun (161 Highway 80 East), Carencro (631 Veterans Memorial Drive and P.O. Box 537 and 2405 Highway 93), Center Point (1045 Highway 107), Chatham (1234 Highway 4), Church Point ( 336 S. Main St.), Clinton (9203 Highway 67), Columbia (7741 Highway 165) Cottonport (409 Choupique Lane),
•Delhi (807 Broadway Drive), Deville (12905 La 28 East), Farmerville (505 S Main St.), Ferrida (504 E Wallace Road), Greensburg (6194 Highway 10),
•Harrisonburg (707 Highway 8), Jackson (3000 Highway 10), Jonesboro (448 Old Winnfield Road), Jonesville (1904 4th St.), Kentwood (512 Ave. G),
•Lafayette (2009 W University Ave., 107 Carmel Ave., 2228 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, 1100 W Willow St., 3550 W Pinhook Road, 4301 Moss Road, 501 E Pinhook Road, 3841 W Congress St and 1944 Moss St.), Lake Providence (300 Sparrow St.), Lawtell (10251 Prejean Highway), Livonia (8389 Highway 190 SE),
•Mansura (P O Box 6), Marksville: 355 W Tunica Drive), Monroe (1421 Winnsboro Road, 3038 Desiard St., 7916 Desiard St. and 3390 Sterlington Road), New Roads (1420 Hospital Road and 401 Elm St.), Newellton (1106 Verona St.),
•Oak Grove (310 West Main St.), Opelousas (209 Natchez Blvd., 933 Cresswell Lane, 718 S Union St. and 1322 W Landry St.), Pineville (8311 Highway 71 N), Pollock (8016 Ridge St.), Port Allen (12902 Highway 190 W), Port Barre (17491 Highway 190),
•Rayville (1910 Julia St.), Richwood (3296 Highway 165 South and 2610 Richwood Road 2), Ruston (612 S Monroe St. and 601 E Georgia Ave.),
•Scott (5620 Cameron St. and 1061 Renaud Drive), Simsboro (9447 Highway 80), St. Joseph (1101 Plank Road), Sterlington (10008 Highway 165 N), Sunset (122 Oak Tree Park Drive),
•Tallulah (300 N Chestnut St.), Vidalia (1919 Carter St.), Ville Platte (710 W Main St.),
•Washington (553 Veterans Blvd.), West Monroe (117 Smith St., 1202 Cypress St., 3002 Cypress St., 5075 Cypress St. and 5872 Jonesboro Road), Winnfield (815 W Court St.), Winnsboro (3636 Front St.), Wisner (139 Maple St.), Youngsville (P.O. Box 1346) and Zachary (4950 Highway 19
For questions about the recall, contact Family Dollar Customer Service at 844-636-7687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.
