FDA seizes goods from San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Company

Fremont - By order of a federal court, U. S. Marshall's seized products from San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Company in Fremont, California on Tuesday.

"The FDA initiated the seizure of various food products in the warehouse owned by the San Francisco Herb &Natural Food Company on Aug. 21, 2012, under a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern of California." - cites the press release on the FDA's website. The warrant was sought after the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit worked for two months uncovering the story. This prompted the action of The California Department of Public Health. What followed was “an embargo of more than a million pounds of product at the Fremont plant, essentially shutting it down." What caused all the concern and such extreme action? A rodent infestation. “Massive rodent infestation.” “We found a massive rodent infestation throughout the facility including direct product infestation,” Patrick Kennelly, Chief of the Food Safety Section of the California Department of Public Health told NBC Bay Area Chief Investigator Tony Kovaleski. Kennelly said state inspectors also found evidence of “dead rodent bodies, live bodies, fecal and urine contamination on products.” In June, the state health inspectors found “evidence that products in the facility had been adulterated by filth including rodent excrete and rodent urine.” A voluntary recall of 16 products was initiated locally by the company but soon a nationwide recall was enacted. Click here for a list of the recalled items It has been suggested that you destroy any item on the list if you have it. Refunds are available by removing the white sticker found on the back of the package and contacting Dr. Fahimeh Niroomand of San Francisco Herb & Natural Foods Company at 510-770-1215, ex. 115. The FDA states The violations at San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Company, in Fremont, Calif. are widespread and significant," said Dara A. Corrigan, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "This prompted the FDA working together with its state partner, the State of California’s Department of Public Health to take these aggressive enforcement actions to protect the health of consumers.” There have been no illnesses reported so far in association with products from the San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Company’s products. Anyone experiencing Illnesses or adverse events in relation to the use of these products can and should be reported to the FDA at caers@fda.hhs.gov or by calling 240-402-2405.