CANTON, MISSISSIPPI – Family Dollar has recently pleaded guilty to significant food safety violations at one of its distribution facilities, resulting in a fine of nearly $42 million, marking the largest criminal penalty in such a case according to the Department of Justice. The violations came to light after more than 1,200 rodents were exterminated from the warehouse following an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2022, which revealed both dead and live rodents, as well as rodent feces and urine.
Dollar Tree, Inc., the parent company of Family Dollar, was charged with one misdemeanor count related to unsanitary conditions that caused FDA-regulated products to become adulterated. The warehouse in question, located in Arkansas, services over 400 stores across several southern states, including Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Despite receiving reports of rodent infestations and damaged goods as early as August 2020, shipments continued until the fumigation in January 2022.
The CEO of Dollar Tree, Rick Dreiling, expressed disappointment in learning about the issues at Family Dollar’s facility and emphasized the company’s efforts to address the situation and enhance their policies and facilities to prevent future occurrences. The Justice Department announced that Family Dollar voluntarily recalled various products, including drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and food items, as a result of the FDA inspection.
In response to the violations, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree will be required to implement strict reporting and compliance measures as part of their resolution with the Justice Department. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer underscored the importance of ensuring consumer safety by holding companies accountable for maintaining clean and uncontaminated conditions for food and drug products on store shelves.