Recall at 404 Family Dollar Stores Includes Cosmetics, Skincare and Wellness Products

On Feb. 18, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) alerted the public that several categories of FDA-regulated products purchased from Jan. 1, 2021, through the present from Family Dollar stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee may be unsafe for consumers to use. The impacted products originated from the company’s distribution facility in West Memphis, Arkansas, where an FDA inspection found insanitary conditions, including a rodent infestation, that could cause many of the products to become contaminated.

Family Dollar initiated a voluntary retail level product recall on the same day.

The FDA alert covers FDA-regulated products purchased from Family Dollar stores in those six states from Jan. 1, 2021, through the present. Some examples of these products include human foods such as including dietary supplements like vitamin, herbal and mineral supplements; cosmetics including skincare products, baby oils, lipsticks, shampoos, baby wipes; animal foods; medical devices including feminine hygiene products, surgical masks, contact lens cleaning solutions, bandages, nasal care products; and over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as pain medications, eye drops, dental products, antacids, other medications for both adults and children.

The recall impacts 404 stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.  Family Dollar operates 8,000 stores across 48 states.

To date, Family Dollar is not aware of any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to the recall.

“Families rely on stores like Family Dollar for products such as food and medicine. They deserve products that are safe,” said Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judith McMeekin, Pharm.D. “No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility. These conditions appear to be violations of federal law that could put families’ health at risk. We will continue to work to protect consumers.”

Following a consumer complaint, the FDA began its investigation of the Family Dollar distribution facility in West Memphis in January 2022. Family Dollar ceased distribution of products within days of the FDA inspection team’s arrival on-site and the inspection concluded on Feb. 11. Conditions observed during the inspection included live rodents, dead rodents in various states of decay, rodent feces and urine, evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors throughout the facility, dead birds and bird droppings, and products stored in conditions that did not protect against contamination. More than 1,100 dead rodents were recovered from the facility following a fumigation at the facility in January 2022. Additionally, a review of the company’s internal records also indicated the collection of more than 2,300 rodents between Mar. 29 and Sep. 17, 2021, demonstrating a history of infestation.