Feds seize food at rodent-infested East Point warehouse

By Bill Rankin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Federal authorities on Wednesday seized rice and other packaged products from what agents described as a rodent-infested food warehouse in East Point.

U.S. marshals, acting under an order signed by a federal judge in Atlanta, seized the products from Sun Hong Kai Holding Inc., also known as United Food Service. The products, including 438 100-pound bags of rice, had an approximate value of $720,000, authorities said. No one was charged criminally in the investigation, and federal documents unsealed Wednesday did not disclose where the food was headed.

"The insanitary conditions alleged to exist in this warehouse where food is stored are simply unacceptable," U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said in a statement. "This office has moved quickly to prevent the FDA-regulated products stored in this rodent-infested warehouse from being sold to unsuspecting consumers."

A woman who answered the phone at United Food Service said the company manager was not immediately available for comment.

According to authorities, the Food and Drug Administration inspected the warehouse from Sept. 22 through Oct. 1 and documented an active and widespread rodent infestation. FDA investigators documented, photographed and videotaped 28 live rodents, one dead rodent and nesting sites, authorities said. Also found in the warehouse were rodent urine stains and gnaw holes on multiple packages of food, authorities said.

FDA investigators also said they found rodent burrow holes entering the warehouse, live birds flying throughout the facility and insects near the food.

According to a civil complaint filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office, the state Department of Agriculture placed all the food under a state "Withhold From Sale" order. FDA inspectors provided a list of their observations to United Food Service officials on Oct. 1, but the company's response did not adequately correct the violations, the complaint said.