Arkansas Sues Family Dollar Over Persistent Rodent Infestation

Family Dollar was sued by the Arkansas state attorney general for selling potentially contaminated products that were stored at a West Memphis distribution center.

The company temporarily shut down more than 400 stores in February after a Food and Drug Administration inspection found a history of pests at the facility.

More than 1,100 dead rodents were found in a January fumigation. According to internal company records, more than 2,300 rodents were collected between March and September of 2021, according to an F.D.A. report.

The company was aware of an increase in rodents in the facility since January 2020.

The suit filed by the Arkansas attorney general says Family Dollar misled consumers about potentially contaminated products and neglected their West Memphis facility.

She said her office was looking for up to $10,000 for each violation of the state's deceptive trade practices act and revocation of the company's authorization to do business in the state.

We don't want to wipe out a source of groceries and medicines, but if they are not safe, then we need someone else to provide that service.

A spokesman for Dollar Tree, the parent company of Family Dollar, did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday. There was a voluntary recall of products at the distribution center.

According to the F.D.A. report, Family Dollar lacked written procedures for quality control and equipment cleaning at the distribution center, and had no system to track reports of contaminated products sent to stores.

Federal inspectors found live and dead rodents in various states of decay, evidence of gnawing and nesting, and other unsanitary conditions at the facility.

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Rodent droppings were found on cases of food and drug products. The agency said that rodents can cause diseases.

According to the suit, other Family Dollar stores have had to close because of rodents.

The revelations at the West Memphis distribution center reveal a pattern of willful and intentional neglect and deceptive and unconscionable business practices.