Over 400 Family Dollar stores shut down after more than a THOUSAND dead rodents found at warehouse

More than 400 Family Dollar stores have been closed after the FDA discovered at least a thousand dead rats and birds at a Arkansas distribution center after a whistleblower shared video of the infestation – including one employee feeding the rodents. 

Warehouse worker Robert Bradford says he was fired from West Memphis distribution center, Arkansas, after he shared footage last month of rats fighting together on the warehouse floor, scurrying up and down the aisles, and a dead rat that had been caught in a trap.

Bradford’s clip also showed an unidentified coworker trying to feed one of the rats a Pringle with his own bare hands.  

‘It’s 61 aisles in the warehouse, you’re going to see them from aisles one to 61,’ Bradford told local news outlet WREG. ‘They be running around, they be on the floor inside the boxes.’ 

The video caught the attention of the Food and Drug Administration who launched an investigation and closed down more than 400 stores temporarily.

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More than 400 Family Dollar stores have been closed after the FDA discovered at least a thousand dead rats and birds at a Arkansas distribution center. Pictured, a rat is seen atop bottles of water at the warehouse 

A former warehouse worker’s cellphone video showed an unidentified coworker trying to feed one of the rats a Pringle with his own bare hands 

Footage shared last month of rats fighting together on the warehouse floor, scurrying up and down the aisles, and a dead rat that had been caught in a trap

The video caught the attention of the Food and Drug Administration who launched an investigation and closed down more than 400 stores temporarily. Pictured:  Adead rat caught in a trap at the West Memphis Family Dollar distribution center

Warehouse worker Robert Bradford, pictured, says he was fired after he shared footage last month of rats infesting the Family Dollar distribution center

The agency reported that it found live and dead rodents, many in various states of decay, along with dead birds after conducting an inspection of the warehouse.

Inspectors believe products kept at the facility were contaminated by the infestation, and have warned customers to throw away any recent Family Dollar purchases.  

Among the products that have been flagged were cosmetics, food items and over-the-counter medications. 

The infestation has been an issue going back to at least 2014, when a downtown Memphis Family Dollar store was shut down for smelling like ‘dead rats.’

And in 2019, a health inspection report noted rodent droppings on store shelves at a Hickory Hill Family Dollar store, causing that location to close. 

Both customers and employees alike shared their reactions to the infestation on social media, expressing their disgust at the news, while others offered some more insight into the gravity of the problem.

‘Former Store Mgr here. The stores are also infested w/rats!!!’ one person tweeted.

‘When @ByPeterCoutu and I spoke to Family Dollar workers, one thing that came up a lot was pests in the stores — rats, even snakes,’

Pictured: A large, dead rat caught at the Family Dollar warehouse

Family Dollar has 8,000 stores across the US but only 4500 are affected by the warehouse infestation (file image) 

Family Dollar has since initiated a voluntary recall on certain products from the distribution facility following news of the most recent warehouse infestation. 

The company claims all affected stores have been notified and temporarily closed, with employees having been asked to quarantine as the issue is sorted out by the FDA.  

‘We take situations like this very seriously and are committed to providing safe and quality products to our customers,’ a spokesperson with Family Dollar told WREG.

‘We have been fully cooperating with all regulatory agencies in the resolution of this matter and are in the process of remediating the issue.