FDA seizes pet food products from PETCO

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. marshals say they have seized various pet food products stored under unsanitary conditions at a Petco distribution center in Joliet, Ill.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested the action under a federal warrant issued in Chicago.

Officials said FDA inspectors in April discovered "widespread and active rodent and bird infestation" at the Petco distribution center. The FDA re-inspected the facility in May and found the same problems still existed.

"We simply will not allow a company to store foods under filthy and unsanitary conditions …," said Margaret Glavin, the FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "Consumers expect such safeguards will be in place not only for human food, but for pet food as well."

The FDA said the Petco distribution center provides products to its retail stores in 16 states: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The FDA said consumers handling products from Petco in the affected states should thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap, as well as surfaces that came in contact with the packages. Consumers were also advised to thoroughly wash products sold in cans and glass containers from Petco.