RELATED: If You Bought This at Aldi, Throw It Out Immediately, FDA Says. On Oct. 1, the FDA released a statement saying the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a mass seizure of products at Lyden Spice Corporation in Miami, Florida. They took 25,000 boxes and bags of bulk ready-to-eat FDA-regulated spices and food additive products the company sells, including MSG, crushed red chili, and sesame seeds. According to a statement from the FDA, it came to the agency’s attention that Lyden Spice’s products were being made “under insanitary conditions.” RELATED: You Should Never Keep This One Spice in Your Cabinet, Experts Warn. Lyden Spice’s website says the company is “well known for carrying quality products at competitive pricing.” They add: “Our products are sourced directly from farmers and growers, allowing us to provide our clients with a premium product at a competitive price.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The company also claims its facilities “meet the global regulatory standards and our products are Kosher certified, Halal certified and FDA approved, guaranteeing our customers a quality product.” Among the products the company sells are spices like black pepper, nutmeg, turmeric; jarred and canned products including apricots, pear, fresh garlic, and mushrooms; and food additives like citric acid and stevia. The FDA’s statement explains that they conducted an investigation of the corporation’s facilities in June, and found “rodent feces too numerous to count on and around pallets with containers of food, evidence of rodent gnawing and urine on food containers, and rodent nesting material between food pallets.” The investigators also reported finding “live and dead insects on food packaging, as well as apparent bird droppings in the food storage area.” Best Life reached out to Lyden Spice Corporation for a comment in response to the FDA’s statement. And for more food safety news and alerts sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint on behalf of the FDA with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida so that the Lyden Spice products could be condemned. “The widespread insanitary conditions found at the Lyden Spice Corporation are disturbing and won’t be tolerated,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, MD, said in a statement. “The FDA plays a critical role in safeguarding the U.S. food supply and helping to ensure that our food is not contaminated at any point during its journey along the supply chain. We take our responsibility seriously and will continue to take action against those who threaten the safety and quality of the products we regulate as a necessary step to protect the public health and the safety of Americans.” RELATED: Major Grocery Chains Are All Pulling This One Food From Shelves, USDA Says.
