The Office of the Tennessee Attorney General has announced a settlement with Family Dollar Stores, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc. This development follows an investigation which found that Family Dollar outlets in Tennessee were selling consumer products that had been stored in a rodent-infested distribution center located in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti emphasized the importance of consumer confidence, stating, “When a mom or dad buys groceries for their kids, they should never have to wonder whether some nasty critter got the first bite. No matter the family budget, whether at a discount shop or not, every Tennessean deserves confidence in the food they buy. This settlement holds Family Dollar accountable and protects Tennessee families from being sold harmful or mislabeled food.”
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In 2022, Family Dollar, Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of FDA-regulated products stored at their West Memphis Distribution Center. By 2024, the company had pleaded guilty to causing FDA-regulated products to become adulterated due to unsanitary conditions. This plea included a significant fine and forfeiture totaling $41.675 million, marking the largest monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case. Additionally, the company was mandated to implement a comprehensive corporate compliance program with oversight by the U.S. Department of Justice.
As part of the settlement, Family Dollar Stores has agreed to pay $1.125 million to the State of Tennessee.
The full settlement details can be viewed here.
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