FDA seizes filthy food and supplement ingredients

It’s a nasty job, but somebody’s got to do it. The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it had U.S. Marshals seize more than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals used in supplements, from American Mercantile Corporation, of Memphis, TN, because they were being stored in filthy conditions.

The FDA inspection found that the ingredients, including cornstarch, licorice powder, salt, sarsaparilla, sassafras, spearmint leaves, and sweet orange peels powder, were being exposed to extensive insect and rodent infestation in the building. The “FDA will not tolerate a company’s failure to adequately control and prevent filth in its facility,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, in a statement.

Credit to the FDA where it’s due—nobody wants rodent feces in their spearmint tea. But the seizure comes shortly after USA Today, reported that the agency has been failing in its overall inspection efforts in recent years. The paper reported that “The FDA fell short of its goal in at least 17 of 39 states it paid to do inspections in the 2007-08 contract year.” And the FDA did no audits at all in five states.

You can find what American Mercantile describes as an incomplete product list at their website.

Update: If you’re wondering what products and brands may contain ingredients from American Mercantile, the FDA can’t help you.  In response to an email from Consumer Reports Health, Stephanie Kwisnek, a spokesperson for the FDA, said the agency doesn’t have access to the company’s distribution list but that “consumers of dietary supplements and herbal teas may contact manufacturers to see if they may have used products from American Mercantile Corp.” There have been no illnesses associated with consumption of products from the company.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

To get involved in Consumers Union’s call to beef up the FDA’s food-safety system, go to NotInMyFood.org.