Introduction
Eat This Not That is reporting on a major discount grocery chain that is being investigated following an epic rat infestation. The chain, which has stores across the country, has been the subject of numerous complaints from customers who have reported seeing rats in the store and in the aisles. The chain has been accused of not taking proper precautions to prevent the infestation, and the investigation is ongoing. This article will provide an overview of the situation, as well as the potential implications for customers and the chain itself.
This Major Discount Grocery Chain Is Being Investigated Following an Epic Rat Infestation
It’s no secret that discount grocery stores can be a great way to save money on food, but one major chain is now under investigation after an epic rat infestation was discovered in one of its stores. The store in question is Aldi, a German-based discount grocery chain with over 10,000 stores in the United States.
The rat infestation was discovered in an Aldi store in the city of Chicago, Illinois. According to reports, the store was closed for several days while the infestation was being dealt with. The store has since reopened, but the incident has sparked an investigation by the Chicago Department of Public Health.
The investigation is looking into the cause of the infestation and whether or not the store was following proper food safety protocols. The department is also looking into whether or not the store was properly maintaining its premises and if there were any other health and safety violations.
The incident has caused a great deal of concern among customers, as rats can carry a variety of diseases and can contaminate food. The Chicago Department of Public Health is urging customers to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or health and safety violations they may observe in any store.
In the meantime, customers are advised to take extra precautions when shopping at Aldi stores. This includes avoiding any food that may have been contaminated by rats, washing hands thoroughly after shopping, and avoiding any areas of the store that may have been affected by the infestation.
It is unclear at this time how long the investigation will take, but it is likely to be a lengthy process. In the meantime, customers are advised to take extra precautions when shopping at Aldi stores and to report any suspicious activity or health and safety violations they may observe.
Last month’s epic rat infestation, which shut down hundreds of Family Dollar stores and caused a major product recall, has prompted an investigation by local authorities into the parent company’s records.
Dollar Tree revealed in its most recent earnings report that the infestation, which originated at a Family Dollar distribution center in Arkansas, cost the company $34 million, due mostly to the large-scale recall of items like dietary supplements, food, cosmetics, and medications. The products were pulled from 404 stores the center was serving across Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, and those locations were temporarily shuttered.
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However, the company still isn’t out of the woods on the issue. The grocery giant has now been subpoenaed by prosecutors in the Eastern District of Arkansas, according to ABC24 News, and will need to show documentation on pests, sanitation, and compliance with the law. The Dollar Tree says it plans to fully cooperate with the investigation and any additional recalls.
“We take situations like this very seriously and are committed to providing safe and quality products to our customers,” company spokesperson Kayleigh Campbell said in a statement to USA TODAY in February. “We have been fully cooperating with all regulatory agencies in the resolution of this matter and are in the process of remediating the issue.”
Rats had been plaguing the Arkansas center for a while, with internal records indicating the problem as early as March of 2021. Between March 29 and Sept. 17, some 2,300 rodents were collected. Then in February of 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said some 1,000 rodents were discovered when the facility was fumigated. Prompted by a consumer complaint, inspectors found live and dead rodents, carcasses on the conveyor belt, rodents in food and roaming around the warehouse, and “too many rodent droppings to count.”
In early March, Family Dollar was gradually reopening shuttered locations but provided no clear timeline on the stores that still remain closed.
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