Marshals seize food in New Mexico warehouse
U.S. Marshals, acting under a court order sought by the Food and Drug Administration, on Monday seized chili pods, ground chili, crushed chili, and other chili products located in the rodent-infested food warehouse owned by Duran and Sons LLC in Derry, N.M.
The state's Environment Department had previously placed an embargo on all products in the company's food warehouse on Nov. 17, 2010.
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico issued a warrant for the seizure of all FDA-regulated food in the warehouse. The federal government's complaint alleges that the products are contaminated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
An FDA inspection of the company's facility was conducted on Nov. 15-22, revealing 'an active and widespread insect and rodent infestation in the food warehouse.' FDA laboratory analysis of samples collected during the inspection confirmed the investigators' observations.